Protectors of Air and Water (P.A.W)
P.A.W: Exploring local air and water quality through storytelling and community science
Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and Western science methods together can uniquely provide an insight into our natural world. This project utilizes the advantages of both to help Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) youth and other local youth understand the importance of air quality and how it impacts our environment and our lives historically, currently, and into the future.
In the spring of 2022, Mrs. Denton’s ninth grade Earth Science class at Cherokee High School (CHS) participated in a pilot project to assess and better understand the state of air quality using these methods.
Environmental Education
Students in Ronda Denton’s 9th grade Earth Science class learned about local air quality and air pollution through classroom science lessons using both English and Cherokee vocabulary.
Students participated in a field trip to the two air quality monitoring sites managed by EBCI Natural Resources.
Cultural Knowledge
Much can be gleaned from stories told by elders and older relatives and friends. The EBCI have been doing this for millennia.
For this project, students delved deeper into the subject by conducting storytelling interviews of their elders/older relatives or friends. Students worked with project staff to analyze their interviews and used this information to formulate their monitoring plans.
Western Science Practices
Students collected particulate pollution concentration data using Airbeam monitors around school and at home.
These monitors measure fine particulate matter, a contributor to poor health and environmental degradation.
Read more about our Research:
This project has been generously funded by the Cherokee Preservation Foundation.
Please, contact Sara Duncan at sduncan@wcu.edu for more information about the project.
