What does this research mean for the field?

While Tribal and non-Tribal communities in the Great Lakes region share broad concerns about climate impacts on forest health, Tribal members place significantly greater importance on forests for cultural identity, heritage, and traditional practices. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate differences in forest interactions, perceived cultural values, and climate-related concerns between Tribal and non-Tribal communities in the Great Lakes region.

August 28, 2026Society & Natural Resources

Climate-Related Change Impacts on Forest Relationships: A Comparative Study of Tribal and Non-Tribal Communities in the Great Lakes Region

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

TTThi Mai Anh TranMichigan Technological University VGValoree GagnonMichigan Technological University EJErin JohnstonKeweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Cross-sectional survey reveals distinct cultural values and shared forest concerns between Tribal and non-Tribal groups, highlighting justice-informed climate adaptation.

Key Points

To evaluate differences in forest interactions, perceived cultural values, and climate-related concerns between Tribal and non-Tribal communities in the Great Lakes region.
Conducted a convenience sample survey of 232 participants (110 Tribal, 122 non-Tribal) at the 2023 Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Pow Wow in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Analyzed 29 items organized into three inferential families using chi-square comparisons, Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate adjustments, and bias-corrected Cramér’s V effect sizes alongside qualitative thematic analysis.
Only two comparisons remained significant after false discovery rate correction: Tribal participants reported significantly higher frequencies of making traditional or ceremonial items and attributed greater value to forests for cultural identity and heritage.
No comparisons regarding perceived climate impacts reached statistical significance following correction, and all associated effect size confidence intervals crossed zero.
Qualitative feedback highlighted shared ecological concerns across groups, but Tribal participants prioritized Treaty rights, intergenerational responsibility, and cultural continuity, whereas non-Tribal participants focused on recreational access and general forest health.

Cite This Study

Tran et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9145ead15324a1df3a92f8 https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2026.2720891

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Implication

Cross-sectional survey reveals distinct cultural values and shared forest concerns between Tribal and non-Tribal groups, highlighting justice-informed climate adaptation.

Climate-Related Change Impacts on Forest Relationships: A Comparative Study of Tribal and Non-Tribal Communities in the Great Lakes Region

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Climate-Related Change Impacts on Forest Relationships: A Comparative Study of Tribal and Non-Tribal Communities in the Great Lakes Region

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider