G-WOW Initiative
“Gikinoo’wizhiwe Onji Waaban” (Guiding for Tomorrow) or “G-WOW” Changing Climate, Changing Culture Initiative
“G’WOW” is a unique model for increasing people’s knowledge of climate change by integrating scientific research with real world evidence of how climate change is affecting traditional Ojibwe lifeways, and people of all cultures. It brings Native perspectives to addressing issue of climate change and incorporates Ojibwe language and cultural components. The project’s service learning approach promotes community level action to mitigate or adapt to a changing Lake Superior climate.
G-WOW provides the model for climate change environmental outreach programs at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center.
Because the G-WOW model is based on investigating the impacts of climate change on key plant and animal species a cultural practice relies on, it is transferabe to other cultures and locations. We welcome you to adapt the G-WOW model to helping your community understand more about climate change and what can be done about it. If you would like more information or assistnace in adapting the model in your community, please contact Cathy Techtmann-Environmental Outreach State Specialist at catherine.techtmann@ces.uwex.edu or call 715.561.2185.
These outreach tools are now available:
G’ WOW Culture and Climate Change Discovery Center
This 200 sq.ft. interactive exhibit and touch screen kiosk at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center in Ashland, WI explores the impacts of climate change on Lake Superior’s natural resources and peoples and what we can do about it. Investigate place-based evidence of climate change impacts seasonal cultural practices the Lake Superior Ojibwe people together with the latest climate science research through intreacive maps, videos, Ojibwe language components.
G’WOW Service Learning Web-Baesd Curriculum www.g-wow.org
Four seasonal curriculum units engage middle and above learners in applying scientific research with place-based investigations to determine how climate change is affecting traditional Ojibwe lifeways and people of all cultures. Students develop their own climate change hypothesis, test it, and develop a cliamte chnage service learning project based on their results. The curriculum features lesson plans, teacher resources, program data bases, visual resources, and interactive blog where students can share their climate service learning projects.
G’WOW Teacher/Educator Professional Development
Professional development programs to build a network of trained climate change community educators to outreach the G’WOW climate change and culture model.
G’WOW Learning Center at NGLVC
The G’WOW Initiative is a collaboration between UW-Extension, the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC), US Forest Service, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore-National Park Service, and Wisconsin State Historical Society.
The project is funded through a WI Coastal Management Grant, NOAA, and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
