The Michigan Wild Rice Initiative (MWRI or Initiative) stems from a collective understanding among State and Tribal governments that the protection and restoration of wild rice in Michigan should be elevated in importance. Since 2017, it has brought together specialists and managers from all 12 federally-recognized tribes, multiple state departments and federal agencies, and others to share information, coordinate approaches, and elevate awareness about wild rice conservation and restoration. The MWRI seeks to protect, preserve, and restore manoomin/mnomen and manoomin/mnomen culture in Michigan through collaboration, education, research, policy and stewardship, to enhance ecosystem health and benefit present and future generations. A priority of the Initiative is the development of a Tribal-State Manoomin/Mnomen Stewardship Plan. The Initiative anticipates adopting a Plan in late spring/early summer 2024.
Monday, January 29th, 2024
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Presenters
Katie LambethMichigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Katie completed her M.S. in Environmental Policy with a focus on environmental justice from Michigan Technological University in 2005. Soon after graduation she began working for the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) where she worked for 11 years as an Environmental Specialist. Her work with KBIC, a tribal government, focused on environmental policy and program development including various environmental disciplines such as water quality, air quality, waste management, brownfields, and human and environmental health. Katie was hired in January 2018 for her current position as Environmental Justice and Tribal Liaison with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Katie serves as the state co-chair for the Michigan Wild Rice Initiative.
