ADVERTISEMENT Indigenous Sustainability Studies Draws Michelle Anderson to Bemidji State BSU junior Michelle Anderson at the American Indian Resource Center on campus. Michelle Anderson wants to take care of the land around her hometown and state. The transfer from Red Lake is a junior in Bemidji State University's Indigenous sustainability studies program and is using her Anishinaabe roots to inform her 21st century scientific research. ecological knowledge with traditional, Indigenous practices. They promote ecosystem growth and balance so that one element does not outgrow another. "This is really fire-dependent land we live on," she said. "We used to do burns in different areas every seven or eight years in order to promote the growth of the forest. My research focuses on burning for blueberries, but I think cultural burns in general are the first step in taking better care of the land around us and learning how to take care of it like we did in pre-colonial times." At 18, Anderson enrolled at Leech Lake Tribal College in Cass Lake to pursue an associate of arts in liberal education with an emphasis in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). During her time at the tribal college, she earned several science- based internships including one with the National Science Foundation, where she conducted research on how sulfate run- off from local mine impacts the growth of manoomin - the Ojibwe word for wild ambassador in the university's Additionally, Anderson is a student American Indian Resource Center where she regularly connects with future experience on campus. students about the Indigenous student rice. At Bemidji State, Anderson is continuing her manoomin research. She attended the September 2021 American Indian Science and Engineering Society conference in Phoenix, Arizona, where she earned second place for undergraduate research. "It's important to make the AIRC known to our children coming to Bemidji State," she said. "I always share my story with prospective students. I chose to come here for the Indigenous sustainability studies program. It's not offered anywhere else and I won't compromise my Indigenous background to enter the workforce." "At first I was thinking about majoring in environmental science with an Indigenous studies minor," she said. "But BSU's Indigenous sustainability studies program was perfect for me. It has both of my fields of interest wrapped into one, so I don't need to take any extra classes." Bemidji State's Indigenous sustainability studies program is designed for students who want to solve sustainability problems using Indigenous knowledge and modern science. By taking classes in environmental Anderson's research portfolio doesn't end in stands of wild rice. She has also conducted research on cultural burns, controlled and strategic fires that pair studies and Indigenous studies, students will learn to protect and preserve Mother Earth. For more information visit bit.ly/BSU-ISS. ADVERTISEMENT Indigenous Sustainability Studies Draws Michelle Anderson to Bemidji State BSU junior Michelle Anderson at the American Indian Resource Center on campus . Michelle Anderson wants to take care of the land around her hometown and state . The transfer from Red Lake is a junior in Bemidji State University's Indigenous sustainability studies program and is using her Anishinaabe roots to inform her 21st century scientific research . ecological knowledge with traditional , Indigenous practices . They promote ecosystem growth and balance so that one element does not outgrow another . " This is really fire - dependent land we live on , " she said . " We used to do burns in different areas every seven or eight years in order to promote the growth of the forest . My research focuses on burning for blueberries , but I think cultural burns in general are the first step in taking better care of the land around us and learning how to take care of it like we did in pre - colonial times . " At 18 , Anderson enrolled at Leech Lake Tribal College in Cass Lake to pursue an associate of arts in liberal education with an emphasis in science , technology , engineering and math ( STEM ) . During her time at the tribal college , she earned several science based internships including one with the National Science Foundation , where she conducted research on how sulfate run off from local mine impacts the growth of manoomin - the Ojibwe word for wild ambassador in the university's Additionally , Anderson is a student American Indian Resource Center where she regularly connects with future experience on campus . students about the Indigenous student rice . At Bemidji State , Anderson is continuing her manoomin research . She attended the September 2021 American Indian Science and Engineering Society conference in Phoenix , Arizona , where she earned second place for undergraduate research . " It's important to make the AIRC known to our children coming to Bemidji State , " she said . " I always share my story with prospective students . I chose to come here for the Indigenous sustainability studies program . It's not offered anywhere else and I won't compromise my Indigenous background to enter the workforce . " " At first I was thinking about majoring in environmental science with an Indigenous studies minor , " she said . " But BSU's Indigenous sustainability studies program was perfect for me . It has both of my fields of interest wrapped into one , so I don't need to take any extra classes . " Bemidji State's Indigenous sustainability studies program is designed for students who want to solve sustainability problems using Indigenous knowledge and modern science . By taking classes in environmental Anderson's research portfolio doesn't end in stands of wild rice . She has also conducted research on cultural burns , controlled and strategic fires that pair studies and Indigenous studies , students will learn to protect and preserve Mother Earth . For more information visit bit.ly/BSU-ISS .