The Environmental Institute at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College (FDLTCC) is looking forward to hosting exciting Earth Week events on campus, April 21 – 25, 2025.  Learn more about the 2025 Earth Week events at https://fdltcc.edu/series/earth-week/.

Learn more about Earth Week events at FDLTCC

“Earth Week is a time of celebration and learning. Every day we are bringing in regional experts to share their passion on subjects that range from protecting the land to how art and media can connect us to issues impacting our community,” shared Courtney Kowalczak, Director of the Environmental Institute of FDLTCC.

One of the featured Earth Week events, the 2025 Research Symposium, will take place on Wednesday, April 23. The Research Symposium will include the keynote presentation, “Returning Cultural Fire to Landscapes That Miss It,” from Bazile Minogiizhigaabo Panek.  Student researchers with the Environmental Institute at FDLTCC will also be delivering presentations on the projects they have been working on over the past year during the Symposium.

Bazile Minogiizhigaabo Panek comes from the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe where he was born and raised. His culture is an integral part of his life, as he consistently participates in cultural events and ceremonies. He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Good Sky Guidance, a consulting firm specializing in the integration of Indigenous Knowledges and culture in environmental initiatives and advising institutions on respectful tribal community engagement.

Bazile also works as the “Fire-Plan Research Coordinator” at University of Wisconsin-Platteville for a National Science Foundation-funded project that combines various ways of knowing to help heal fire-dependent lands and cultures in the Great Lakes region.

According to Bazile Minogiizhigaabo Panek, the keynote presentation will discuss “our landscapes and relatives within them miss the presence of low-severity, frequent burns set by Indigenous peoples. The lack of fire has caused decreases in biological diversity and increases in wildfire severity due to the increased accumulation of burnable materials on the forest floors. In this presentation, we will hear how Bazile Minogiizhigaabo Panek and others are looking to revitalize cultural fire by first listening to the needs and wants of Indigenous communities.”

A Student Showcase featuring presentations and performances from students in multiple fields of study on campus will follow the Research Symposium.

“Our Research Symposium and Student Showcase on April 23rd are our chance to share the great work that our students are doing, not only in Environmental Science but also in nursing, the arts, and geographic information systems. Our students are truly amazing,” shared Kowalczak.

For more information on the 2025 Earth Week events at FDLTCC, please visit https://fdltcc.edu/series/earth-week/ or contact Courtney Kowalczak at courtneyk*AT*fdltcc.edu.

Learn more about Earth Week events at FDLTCC

2025 Earth Week at FDLTCC Schedule:

Monday, April 21

  • 9:00 AM – Opening Speaker
  • 9:30 AM – Student Visit Day with FDL Resource Management
  • 12:00 PM – Earth Week Opening Feast and Tabling

Tuesday, April 22

  • 9:15 AM – Emma Pardini from WLSSD: Recycling and Waste Reduction
  • 11:00 AM – FDLTCC Campus Recycling Demonstration with Environmental Club
  • 1:00 PM – Earth Week Bioblitz: Introduction to using iNaturalist
  • 3:00 PM – Seed Starting with Erika Resendiz Alonso

Wednesday, April 23

  • 9:00 AM – Research Symposium
  • 12:00 PM – Lunch
  • 4:00 PM – Student Showcase, Hors d’oeuvres, and Tabling

Thursday, April 24

  • 1:00 PM- Dr. John Pastor, Guest Speaker: The Intersection of Art and Science

Friday, April 25

  • 12:00 PM – Film Showing: “Bad River”

Testimonials

My favorite thing about FDLTCC is the people. I’ve met fantastic students, faculty and staff who go above and beyond what I expected.

It is awesome here at the FDLTCC Education Program because it is like a family here, if you need help or are struggling with anything, you have quite a few people who will help you out.

I chose FDLTCC because of its size and the curriculum. When I first came here in 2019, I was just looking for what I needed to volunteer, perhaps in a crisis shelter. I met with Don Jarvinen, and the rest is history.