American Indian Responses to
Environmental Challenges

Akwesasne Mohawk
menu icon for mobile
close menu icon
1. Not started

Our Strategies

Collecting seeds, educating the community, and planting new trees every year are some of the ways Mohawk tribal members are working to protect and re-establish black ash stands in and around their reservation.

Key Terms

  • Canopy

    The uppermost layer of foliage in a forest.

  • Regeneration

    The establishment of healthy trees through planting or natural forestation.

  • Seed orchard

    A crop established for the production of tree seed.

  • Invasive species

    A non-native plant, animal, or other organism, introduced to a non-local area, which may become a source of environmental disturbance and harm.

  • Infestation

    The presence of a large number of animals or insects that can cause damage or disease.

2. Not started

Explore: Saving Black Ash Trees

photo of diseased treetop Black ash branch bearing seeds Bark damaged by emerald ash borers Emerald ash borer entry points on trunk Tree treated with chemical designed to repel emerald ash borers

What is being done to prevent the emerald ash borer in Akwesasne?

Diseased tree top: With so many black ash trees dying due to emerald ash borer infestations in other parts of the country, planting new trees in Akwesasne is crucial to ensuring their preservation.

Seeds: Over the past twenty years, the Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment has collected thousands of black ash seeds that are used to grow saplings and are stored for replanting in the future.

Gallery tracks: By encouraging people not to move firewood, the Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment is working to prevent the spread of wood infested by the emerald ash borer.

D-shaped entry holes: Removing some healthy black ash trees makes it more difficult for the emerald ash borer to travel from tree to tree. (It also helps make sure the trees have enough sunlight.)

Epicormic growth: TreeAzin is a mild chemical (similar to dish detergent) that is injected into black ash trees, making them taste bad to emerald ash borers in hopes they will leave the trees alone.

3. Question 1: Not started Question 2: Not started Question 3: Not started

Try These Questions

Why is it important that TreeAzin, a chemical injected into the black ash to protect it from the emerald ash borer, only affects the beetle?
TreeAzin being injected into a tree
A) Basketmakers put black ash splints into their mouths while making baskets.
B) People climb black ash trees, and the chemical might get on their hands.
C) People roast and eat the seeds of the black ash tree.
The Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment (ATFE) collects and stores black ash seeds for the future. Why is the task of collecting seeds complicated?
A) Seeds are difficult to reach at 20 to 40 feet off the ground.
B) The trees don’t produce seeds until they are 9 years old.
C) Seeds are catalogued by location for replanting in the right region.
D) All of the above
This photo shows a black ash tree that will be good for basketmaking. What is the recommended age for a good basketmaking tree?
Black ash tree
A) 10 – 15 years old
B) 40 – 50 years old
C) 80 – 100 years old
Submit your answer

Story Project Planner

Take Notes for Story Project

Close

Take notes and save images to help answer these questions. Your images and notes will be saved to the Story Project where you can use them to create your own slideshow.