PS 25-53 - CANCELLED - Sovereign Science: Indigenous Citizen Science, and Ongoing Ecocide

Background/Question/Methods

Sovereign Science: Indigenous Citizen Science and Ongoing Ecocide, seeks to answer the Indigenous request of Free, Pre-Prior, Informed, Consent as well as the request for environmental impact statements for landscapes and waterscapes in question. Sovereign Science is following an Indigenous pedagogy to addressing industrial-led climate chaos, while restoring environmental sovereignty and tribal sovereignty. Utilizing science communication, and pure people power, Sovereign Science is in the field and on the land at resistance frontlines gathering various environmental samples which function as baseline metadata, to then be deeper explored within laboratory settings. These baseline data points range from; pH, TDS, air quality, iron, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfuric acid levels. While the laboratory component is to explore the micro-invertebrate, alga, fungi, and genomic characteristics of the field samples that have not been used for testing in the field. This metadata, laboratory data, and exposed variables are then compiled into public documents for the tribal nations, and other concerned citizens to read and utilize in turn, for environmental autonomy. Sovereign Science is answering the Indigenous, decolonizing question of how to use the ongoing environmental story as liberation, and the answer is scientific documentation, coupled with land and water analysis.

Results/Conclusions

Presently, Sovereign Science has conducted field and laboratory research on the following; the effects of Enbridge's Line 3 in Anishinaabe Treaty Territory in Minnesota, the effects of the Algonquin Natural Gas pipeline in New Jersey, and the remaining soil effects of Ford's Superfund site, both on Ramapough Lenapehoking (territory). Sovereign Science has released three public documents relating to the ecological stance of the vulnerable ecosystems, currently subjected to ecocide. The most recent document, had the following findings from one frac-out water sample from Minnesota. An increased abundance of decomposers in the water samples from Camp Firelight were found, resulting in oxygenation struggles for the immediate ecosystem. In addition, there were high quantities of bacteria and decaying diatoms. Based on the microscopic photographs from the analysis, it can be concluded that a bacteria-fungal-bloom had occurred, meaning that Indigenous Water Protectors, must keep monitoring as the seasons change, as these waters are also home to the endangered wild rice, Manoomin, among others.