NOAA Announces Indigenous Communities Awards Under the Great Lakes Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program
September 2024 | sanctuaries.noaa.gov
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has awarded $255,973 in funding for three projects that will engage Indigenous youth in meaningful place-based watershed educational experiences through the Great Lakes Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program. This initiative is supported by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative under Focus Area 5: Foundation for Future Restoration Actions.
Seneca Nation of Indians: Seneca Nation B-WET Project The projects will provide both students and teachers from schools serving the Allegany and Cattaraugus Territories (western New York) of the Seneca Nation with the opportunity to learn about the waterways of the Seneca Nation and how to be good stewards of these waterways. Through this new program, a series of presentations and experiential learning opportunities will be offered to participating educators from schools within the two territories in order to develop the skills to apply this knowledge in the classroom. Educators and Seneca youth participants will be involved in identifying challenges facing Seneca Nation waterways, assessing threats, and developing resiliency strategies while working to develop place-based, culturally appropriate solutions. Educators will then work with students to identify and implement stewardship projects to preserve and improve water quality and ecosystem health in the Seneca community. It is estimated that 100 students and 15 teachers will be able to take part in Seneca Nation B-WET Project.
