DOI: 10.5061/dryad.r7sqv9sqr
title: Indigenous Peoples and environmental research and monitoring within the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin: A systematic map

description: The North American Great Lakes basin faces management challenges worsened
 by climate change, invasive species, and contaminants. Addressing these
 issues requires a collective approach, drawing on a diversity of
 perspectives and voices, including that of the Indigenous Peoples in the
 region—Tribal Nations, First Nations, and Métis peoples. For these
 priorities and needs to be meaningfully included, Indigenous communities,
 Nations and Tribes must be supported to participate in and direct
 environmental research and monitoring through approaches that respect
 community-based research and learning. However, the extent of
 environmental research and monitoring conducted with, for, or by
 Indigenous Peoples (including Indigenous communities, Nations, and Tribes)
 in the Great Lakes region is not well documented. Without a clear
 understanding of what research is taking place, where, and how Indigenous
 Peoples are involved, it is difficult to assess whether these efforts are
 truly inclusive or aligned with Indigenous priorities—highlighting the
 need to systematically map and characterize these efforts. A systematic
 mapping protocol was applied to identify, gather, and review
 English-language peer-reviewed literature on environmental research and
 monitoring in the Great Lakes basin conducted with, for and by Indigenous
 Peoples. Sixty studies were identified and included in the systematic map
 database gathered and analyzed for this review. The systematic map reveals
 that 57% of the studies took place in or around Lake Superior. Many
 focused on human health risk assessments, particularly related to
 environmental contaminant exposure. The role of Indigenous Peoples varied,
 with most studies reporting involvement at the data gathering and
 collection stage. Practical Implication: This map describes the extent,
 focus, and roles of Indigenous Peoples in Great Lakes research and
 monitoring, based on peer-reviewed English literature. If this literature
 reflects broader research activity, findings suggest limited
 representation—only 19% of Indigenous communities and Nations across the
 basin were included, and few were engaged in early-stage planning or
 priority setting. However, this literature likely underrepresents the full
 scope of Indigenous-led or co-developed work. To support more equitable
 Great Lakes research, future efforts should promote broader geographic
 inclusion, increased Indigenous leadership across all stages, and greater
 transparency regarding Indigenous involvement.
description: # Indigenous Peoples and environmental research and monitoring within the
 Laurentian Great Lakes Basin: A systematic map Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.r7sqv9sqr](10.5061/dryad.r7sqv9sqr) ## Description of the
 data and file structure Supplementary File 3: Systematic Map Database This
 file contains the database for the following systematic map: Pirie E,
 Serville-Tertullien M, Buell M-C, Wall B, and Furgal C. 2025. Indigenous
 Peoples and environmental research and monitoring within the Laurentian
 Great Lakes Basin: A systematic map. Ecological Solutions and Evidence.
 ### Data File Column Descriptions The dataset includes the following
 columns: 1. **Reference** * *Description*: Citation or identifier for the
 publication. * *Values*: Publication citation (e.g., author name, year,
 etc.). 2. **Publication Year** * *Description*: Year in which the
 publication appeared. * *Values*: Numeric year (e.g., 2006, 2019, etc.).
 3. **Name of community** * *Description*: Indigenous community (Nation,
 Band, or Tribe) referenced in the study. * *Values*: * Bay Mills Chippewa
 Indian Community * Akwesasne (Mohawk Council of Akwesasne & Saint
 Regis Mohawk Tribe) * Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians *
 Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians * Grand Traverse Bay Band of
 Ottawa and Chippewa Indians * Little River Band of Ottawa Indians * Little
 Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians * Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake
 Superior Chippewa * Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin * Keweenaw Bay
 Indian Community * Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
 Indians * Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa * Sokaogon Chippewa
 Community / Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa * Fond du Lac Band of
 Lake Superior Chippewa * Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa *
 Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe * Six Nations of the Grand River * St. Croix
 Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin * Grand Portage Band of Chippewa * 15 other
 communities (e.g., Aamjiwnaang First Nation, Mohawks of Kahnawà:ke, Oneida
 Nation of the Thames, Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory) * Unspecified *
 Other 4. **Geographic location (by Lake and/or tributary)** *
 *Description*: The Great Lake or related waterbody associated with the
 study. * *Values*: * Lake Superior * Lake Michigan * Lake Huron * Lake
 Erie * Lake Ontario * Other 5. **Focus of study** * *Description*: The
 primary thematic focus of the research. * *Values*: * Human health risk
 assessment * Ecological monitoring and management * Other 6. **Generic
 species or object of study** * *Description*: The species group or
 environmental object that was the focus of research. * *Values*: * Fish *
 Mammal * Bird * Reptile * Amphibian * Contaminants * Soil * Vegetation *
 Weather and climate * Land use and management * Water use and management *
 Other 7. **Categorical Interpretation of Role of community in research** *
 *Description*: How the Indigenous community was represented or involved in
 the research process. * *Values*: * Research requested by members of
 community * Involvement in early stages/planning of research * Involved in
 data collection process * Involvement in data analysis and interpretation
 * Unspecified * Other --- ### Note on Empty or "Unspecified"
 Cells * The value **“Unspecified”** is used when the publication did not
 provide enough detail to determine the community name, geographic
 location, focus of study, object of study, or role of the community in
 research.