Native American forest keepers to visit ancient Clare oak woods

A County Clare environmental group will host two Native American ‘forest keepers’ at a cross cultural forest preservation event in July.

The Woodland League, a not-for-profit community focused environmental organisation, will host two Menominee Tribal Enterprises Forest Managers, coming from Wisconsin, to give a presentation on their award winning sustainable forest management methodology at the upcoming “Re-Imagining The Great Forest of Aughty” symposium, and to contribute to the forest management discussions and debate on two planned field trips. 

The symposium is part of a plan to restore and join remnant pockets of ancient oakwood rainforest in the Aughty mountain region of East Clare and South Galway, and will take place July 22-23 2023 at noc na Gaoithe Cultural Centre in Tulla, County Clare. 

This will be a cross-cultural exchange exploring the indigenous forest traditions of Ireland and North America, with special guests Ron Waukau and Mc Kaylee Duquain of the Menominee Nation sharing their extensive knowledge, wisdom and spiritual connection to their forest of 235,000 acres in Wisconsin, with the most biodiversity and the most tree species-rich forest in North America.  

Menominee Tribal Enterprises have won numerous awards and recognition for their sustainable forest management including United Nations recognition.

The symposium will also feature craftspeople doing basket making, longbow making, pole lathe wood turning, and sugan chair making. The Menominee will also be listing all of the wood products and crafts that their great forest has gifted them over many centuries.

Public relations officer for the Woodland League, Andrew St Ledger, said: “The event aims to bring attention to our  active Great Forest of Aughty rainforest restoration plan to expand the pockets of oakwood and join them via a matrix of riparian and hedgerow corridors and to seek action and support to make it happen on a wider scale to benefit communities, farmers, water, soil and biodiversity.

“This plan will involve a combination of natural regeneration with targeted planting to create new native forest areas which will help with water and soil protection, flood alleviation, eco tourism, and ensure community and landscape resilience. The project also wishes to tap into the rich cultural heritage of this vibrant unspoiled area renowned for its music, dancing and storytelling traditions to merge with the rich local natural heritage,” he added.

For more information and to see the full programme, visit the Woodland League’s website.