Wiigwaas: an Indigenous Traditional Knowledge Informed Study of Sustainable Roofing Materials

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Digital Commons @ ESF Dissertations and Theses Summer 8-14-2020 Wiigwaas: An Indigenous Traditional Knowledge Informed Study of Sustainable Roofing Materials Biidaaban Reinhardt SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.esf.edu/etds Part of the Engineering Commons, and the Indigenous Studies Commons Recommended Citation Reinhardt, Biidaaban, "Wiigwaas: An Indigenous Traditional Knowledge Informed Study of Sustainable Roofing Materials" (2020). Dissertations and Theses. 196. https://digitalcommons.esf.edu/etds/196 This Open Access Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ ESF. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ ESF. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. WIIGWAAS: AN INDIGENOUS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE INFORMED STUDY OF SUSTAINABLE ROOFING MATERIALS by Biidaaban M. Reinhardt A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science Degree State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse, New York August 2020 Department of Sustainable Resources Management Approved by: Paul Crovella, Major Professor Karin Limburg, Chair, Examining Committee Christopher Nowak, Department Chair S. Scott Shannon, Dean, The Graduate School © 2020 Copyright B.M. Reinhardt All rights reserved ii Acknowledgements Chi-miigwech (great thanks) to all those that helped me on this project and in life to get me where I am today. My sister, aunties, uncles, cousins, god daughter, partner, grandparents, best friends, teachers, professors, and all those around the country that I have met in my travels and at conferences that played a part in my academic journey. Chi-miigwech to the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Lighting the Pathway mentorship group and my mentor Dr. Robert Megginson; for getting me on this path to graduate school, introducing me to fellow Indigenerds in STEM, and for pushing me to be the Anishinaabe scientist I was meant to be. Chi-miigwech especially to my thesis committee, Dr. Paul Crovella, Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Neil Patterson, for the guidance, advice, and countless meetings with this project, but also for being mentors and friends in my time at SUNY ESF. You each played a pivotal role in my first experiences as a graduate student, moving across the country, and becoming the Indigenous researcher that I have grown into. Chi-miigwech to my Sloan cohort, my fellow Tree Chuggers, and my roomies back in ‘Cuse. I am forever thankful for the late nights studying or dancing, the meals we cooked together, and for knowing when it is time to talk about our theses and when it is time to have a life outside of academics. Chi-miigwech to my parents, Dr. Martin Reinhardt and Tina Moses, without whom I literally would not be here, but also for teaching Nim and me our Anishinaabe lifeways, values, and stories. More than that, however, miigwech for being with me at every step of this thesis: showing me how to gather birch bark, where to dig for roots, and swatting away bugs as we built the structures. After the near infinite amount of revisions that you helped me edit, I hope you are as proud of this work as I am. Gizaagiyin. iii Table of Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. vi List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... vii List of Appendices ......................................................................................................................... ix Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... x Foreword: Anishinaabe Autoethnography ...................................................................................... 1 Identity ........................................................................................................................................ 4 Sequencing and Where this Stands ........................................................................................... 10 Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................. 12 Indigenous Peoples: History and Housing ................................................................................ 12 Colonization and Current Conditions ........................................................................................ 15 Research Questions ................................................................................................................... 20 Chapter 2: Literature Review ........................................................................................................ 21 Traditional Indigenous Structures ............................................................................................. 21 Traditional Ecological Knowledge............................................................................................ 24 Sustainable Construction Materials ........................................................................................... 27 Keystone Material: Paper Birch ................................................................................................ 33 Chapter 3: “The Approach” .......................................................................................................... 36 Relationality .............................................................................................................................. 36 Ongoing Collaborative Analysis ............................................................................................... 39 Chapter 4: Methods ....................................................................................................................... 41 Site Exposure Test ..................................................................................................................... 42 Mechanical Properties Test ....................................................................................................... 50 Chapter 5: Results ......................................................................................................................... 59 Site Exposure Testing Results ................................................................................................... 59 Mechanical Properties Testing Results ..................................................................................... 62 Chapter 6: Connections ................................................................................................................. 68 Direction .................................................................................................................................... 72 Orientation and Expansion ........................................................................................................ 75 Moisture Content ....................................................................................................................... 77 Chapter 7: Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 80 Importance of Ojibwe TEK ....................................................................................................... 82 iv Harvesting Experience .............................................................................................................. 83 Durability .................................................................................................................................. 84 Comparing Exposure, Elasticity, and Energy ........................................................................... 85 Future Research and Recommendations ................................................................................... 90 Reflections ................................................................................................................................. 92 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................................. 95 Appendix A ................................................................................................................................. 105 Vertical Control Group: Samples A1, B1, C1, and D3 ........................................................... 105 Horizontal Control Group: Samples B2, D1, E2, G1 .............................................................. 107 Vertical Submerged Group: Samples A2, A3, C2, F1 ............................................................ 109 Horizontal Submerged Group: Samples D2, E1, F2, G2 ........................................................ 111 Reinhardt CV .............................................................................................................................. 114 v List of Tables Table 1: Full bark sheet surface area, condition, and use ............................................................. 45 Table 2: List of 16 Samples with which bark sheet they were cut from, batch, and curl ............. 54 Table 3: Average Max Force and MoE of each of the four test batches .....................................

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