RaMP: Native American Capacity Building to Explore Biological Systems Resilience: Weaving Traditional Ways of Knowing with Western Science

生物学中的一个基本问题是，分子、生理、生态和生态系统的弹性是如何相互关联的--跨系统和尺度的共同或不同的网络模式。面对加速的气候变化和人类对生物系统的其他干扰，这个问题尤为紧迫。这项研究的总体目标是通过创建一个将大学与当地部落连接起来的网络，并围绕共同的价值观和科学目标建立一个合作框架，以公平、非提取的方式让土著知识系统参与进来，从而改变学术界的社会、文化和智力结构。该项目为开发一套项目提供了一个框架，涉及与部落伙伴有关的系统中的许多级别的生物复原力，并建立智力和文化关系，将生物学各分支学科和不同的认识方式结合起来。该项目的土著坡道毕业后学员将参与与部落、导师和共同导师共同开发的尊重、关系、互惠和负责任的项目，以满足部落需求。这项工作将尊重和维护土著知识，让部落国家和人民充分参与项目发展的每一步。最终，这个项目将为美国的土地出让机构尊重和维护土著知识奠定基础，在项目开发的每一步都要充分接触部落国家和人民，以便土著系统可以与西方知识体系一起应用，以揭示生物系统的复原力。这项工作将把西方学习生物系统复原力的科学方法与土著知识交织在一起，以培训受训者在土著范式中“双眼看”。此外，在项目中采用土著研究方法将使参与者(被辅导者、导师和共同导师)能够探索学术界部落国家建设的文化主题。在这一计划中，将充分融合部落主权和自决，以及符合长期决策的社区和公共领导精神。该项目将支持约30名自认为美洲原住民/阿拉斯加原住民/原住民的毕业后辅导者。将支持学员发展科学、专业和文化技能，使他们能够在部落社区或与部落社区一起继续深造或STEM活动。生物系统的研究范围将从分子到景观和生态系统规模，包括鲑鱼孵化场的复原机制、长期农林抗病以及土壤健康和管理对部落粮食主权的影响。从事部落研究能力建设，可以作为部落与大学互动过程的典范。最后，在我们这个快速变化的世界里，了解有弹性的人类生态系统的属性是非常重要的。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

A fundamental question in biology is how are molecular, physiological, ecological, and ecosystem system resilience interrelated – network patterns that are common or divergent across systems and scales. This question is especially urgent in the face of accelerating climate change and other human perturbation to biological systems. The overarching goal of this research is to transform the social, cultural, and intellectual fabric of academia by creating a network connecting universities with local tribes and building a collaborative framework around shared values and scientific goals that engages Indigenous knowledge systems in equitable, non-extractive ways. This project provides a framework for the development of a suite of projects addressing many levels of biological resilience in systems relevant to Tribal partners and builds intellectual and cultural relationships that will integrate subdisciplines in biology and different ways of knowing. This project’s Indigenous RaMP postbaccalaureate mentees will engage in respectful, relational, reciprocal, and responsible projects developed with Tribes, mentors, and co-mentors to meet Tribal needs. This work will honor and uphold Indigenous knowledge by fully engaging Tribal nations and people at every step of project development. Ultimately, this project will lay the groundwork for land-grant institutions in the US to honor and uphold Indigenous knowledge by fully engaging Tribal nations and people at every step of project development so Indigenous systems can be applied together with Western knowledge systems to shed new light on biological systems resilience.This work will intertwine Western scientific approaches to learning about biological systems resilience with Indigenous knowledge to train mentees in the Indigenous paradigm of “two-eyed seeing.” Further, employing Indigenous research methodologies in the project will enable participants (mentees, mentors, and co-mentors) to explore the cultural theme of Tribal nation building in academia. Within this program, there will be full integration of Tribal sovereignty and self-determination and a spirit of community and public leadership that aligns with long-term decision making. The project will support ~30 post-bac mentees who identify as Native American/Native Alaskan/Indigenous. Mentees will be supported in developing scientific, professional, and cultural skills that will position them to pursue further education or STEM activities in and with tribal communities. Biological systems of study will range from the molecular to the landscape and ecosystem scales, including mechanisms of salmon hatchery resilience, long-term agroforestry disease resistance, and the impacts of soil health and stewardship on tribal food sovereignty. Engaging in Tribal research capacity building, can serve as a model for the process of interaction between Tribes and universities. Finally, understanding the properties of resilient human-ecological systems is of urgent importance in our rapidly changing world.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.