Traditional Ecological Knowledge & Natural Resource Stewardship

This session brought fellows to Plummer for a day rooted in the Schitsu'umsh (Coeur d’Alene Tribe) relationship with the land and water, beginning at the Coeur d'Alene Tribe Natural Resources Department.

Laura Laumatia, Environmental Programs Manager, opened with a presentation tracing the environmental history of the region through the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s lens — from the arrival of colonizers and the erosion of land sovereignty, through the mining industry's devastating impact on the land, water, and people, to the tribe's current working relationship with the Idaho DEQ and the restoration work they continue to lead today. It was a devastating account of ongoing consequences, and a reminder that the damage visible in the watershed has a much longer story behind it.

LoVina Louie, Education Outreach Manager, followed with a presentation that deeply movedus all. She spoke about the profound impact U.S. government policy had on the Coeur d'Alene Tribe — on their people, their culture, their spiritual practices and beliefs, and their deep relationship to the land and water. It was an emotional and necessary grounding for the fellowship. Understanding that history isn't separate from what fellows are learning about the lake — it is inseparable from it.

From there, fellows made their way to the Coeur d'Alene Casino for a guided tour of the stunning artwork woven throughout the space — a remarkable collaborative beadwork installation, murals, metalwork, photography, and more. Living Lake fellow Bobbie White, artist and Cultural Tours & Events Manager for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, led the tour and shared the stories behind the work. Shoutout to Living Lake Fellow Jonathon Nomee, World Champion Men's Fancy Dancer for walking the group through a hallway of striking photographs documenting his 2025 championship performance.

Seeing art rooted so deeply in connection to the land provided fellows with inspiration for thinking about their own connection to the land and how to express that through their own work.