Ecological Society of America

"Sitting Bull College Campus and Reservation Schools Tree Planting Project" Special Project

In 2006 100 2-3 foot tall bare root trees were given to each of the twelve schools on Standing Rock Reservation that included any or all of the grades K-12. Suitability for trees was determined for each school and trees were distributed that were best suited to the soil type. Several schools requested additional trees which they received after all the schools had received their initial trees. Tree planting and maintenance instructions, along with brochures promoting programs at Sitting Bull College and potential careers in the field of natural resources and ecology were also distributed to each school. Each school held a special event to kick off their campus tree planting. The Ecology Club members assisted with distribution of the trees, but were unable to attend the individual tree planting events due to final exams. Ecology Club members or the advisor visited each school to monitor progress of the planting and to ensure all the trees had been planted.

"Sitting Bull College New Campus Wildlife Habitat Establishment" Special Project

Funded in 2004, this project allowed for the planting of trees and shrubs to establish wildlife habitat and provide wind protection on the new college campus. Also, feeders were provided for the wildlife through a wildlife feeder workshop. Informational signs were also put up for visitors.

Construction of the new Sitting Bull College campus destroyed the majority of the natural ecosystems present. The new campus was built in an area that is over seventy acres and was a combination of rangeland, steep hills with wooded draws, and an alfalfa/grass field.

"Sitting Bull College New Campus Landscape Project" Special Project

Sitting Bull College built a new campus one mile west of the original one. Considerable amounts of earth were moved during construction preparation, in the course of utility placement, and in grading and paving operations. Although no grants for landscaping or seeding had been received, Sitting Bull College purchased grass seed and hired a contractor to perform the reseeding in areas indirectly adjacent to the housing area, and in the other areas of the approximately 52 acres of disturbed soils. However, there are many smaller areas that needed seeding where large seeding equipment could not be used. It was important that the disturbed areas be seeded as soon as possible to prevent erosion and for aesthetic reasons. College administrators, the Student Ecology Chapter and science related faculty worked closely with our civil engineers and our construction contractors to restore these disturbed areas as closely as possible to predisturbed conditions. Native grasses were utilized to restore rangeland on what previously was alfalfa/cropland. Resultant native grasses and forbs were used for erosion control, educational purposes, aesthetics, and the overall landscaping theme.

Funded in 2004, this project allowed the Student Ecology Chapter to be responsible for the entire seeding of the student housing area. They purchased native grass seed, fertilizer, straw, a broadcast seeder, hoses, and sprinklers and rented a roto-tiller and a packer. Extra student help had to be hired to help with the project as three acres needed to be seeded. A sign is being designed for the site to explain the project.

"Water Quality Testing" Special Project

In order to determine if contaminants are present in drinking water on Standing Rock Indian Reservation, test kits suitable for testing bacterial and farm chemical contamination were purchased and students and interested staff were trained to use the kits. In order for reservation residents to understand the results of the water quality tests, tests were performed in the resident's home and the process and results were explained. The quality of drinking water on Standing Rock Indian Reservation was recorded, as Sitting Bull College, in cooperation with Tribal Departments, maintains records of test results and location of the sample.

Funded in 2004 this project has been very popular in the tribal communities. Partnering in this project is the Natural Resources Education Project, for which Linda Hugelen (former advisor) is the coordinator. Part-time employees of the project visit the tribal communities on a regular basis and do water quality testing and information dissemination. When needed, further testing is done at a private laboratory (MVTL) in Bismarck, North Dakota. Results of the all tests are recorded, shared with applicable Tribal Departments, and recorded on a watershed basis. To date, the trend appears to be naturally occurring high sodium levels, or high levels of added chlorine. The Sitting Bull College Library will house the tests for the public's access.

"Sitting Bull College Research Leadership" Special Project

Sitting Bull College was granted land-grant status in 1994. This status allows Sitting Bull College the opportunity to be a leader in research conducted on Standing Rock Reservation, or in collaboration with other agencies, off the reservation. However, few people living or working on the reservation know how to conduct research. This project aimed to (1) provide education to Sitting Bull College administration, faculty, staff and students on the process for starting and conducting meaningful scientific research and to inform community members and to allow them to be as involved as they care to be in research being conducted on Standing Rock Indian Reservation; (2) develop a system to compile research needs as expressed by community members and college faculty, and to secure funds to complete the research; (3) put in place an Institutional Review Board (IRB) and implement guidelines meeting federal standards; and, (4) hire Sitting Bull College students to assist with faculty-led research.

Funded in 2004, workshops and meetings were held for: Explaining the process of conducting research; and developing an IRB. Students received a stipend for assisting with research. A survey was conducted to determine the general consensus of research needed on Standing Rock Indian Reservation. Also, a grant writing workshop was made available. Researchers from other institutions were invited to give presentations about research. At two meetings held in December, tribal members expressed concern that research was synonymous with exploitation, or had been in the past. They were not keen on allowing any research to be conducted. Regarding an IRB, they felt that the one in place was adequate. More work is needed with smaller groups to educate the general public on the reservation about research and the need for a local IRB. Approximately 300 people attended informational meetings where the topic of research and IRB were discussed. The majority of these were residents of Standing Rock Indian Reservation, college and tribal employees, and college students. Dr. John Hendrikson, Agricultural Research Service, Dr. Leo Schleiker, South Dakota State University, Dr. Bea Medicine and Dr. Ron His Horse Is Thunder gave excellent presentations. Linda Hugelen, Ecology Club Advisor (former), and Justin Parisien, President, provided leadership for these events.

The general opinion on research needed on Standing Rock Indian Reservation was obtained, although it was not the hoped-for opinion. The IRB will not be formed at this time, but the federal one in place will suffice.