Climate Change Impacts on Menominee Clan Animals

For more information about the Menominee Clans, visit The Menominee Clans Story.

What are Clan Animals?

Clan animals are often an animal that represents the region in which a Tribal Nation resides (“Traditional Teaching: Clans,” n.d.).

Brief Menominee Clan History:

The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, hereafter referred to as Menominee, has thirty-four clans that are organized into five distinct divisions known as brothers (“The Menominee Clan Story,” n.d.). The Menominee developed the clan system to address vital issues that the tribe faced (“The Menominee Clan Story,” n.d.). Each brother of the Menominee was assigned a role with certain responsibilities that had to be met in order to keep the tribe surviving and thriving (“The Menominee Clan Story,” n.d.).

Terms Used:

In an effort to decolonize terminology related to the homelands of Indigenous Peoples, the author used the following terms:

Turtle Island - a general term for the continent that is now known as North America.

Menominee homeland - a general term for the ancestral and modern territory of the Menominee, reflecting what is now known as Wisconsin and the western Great Lakes region.

Menominee: Awāēsāēh

English: Black bear 

Scientific Name: Ursus americanus

Cultural Significance:

Many different tribes such as Oneida, Anishinaabe, and Otoe-Missouria have the awāēsāēh as one of their clan animals (“Clan Systems,” n.d.; “Traditional Teaching: Clans,” n.d.; “Creation Story,” n.d.). For the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, hereafter referred to as Menominee, The Bear Clan is made of the main clan, awāēsāēh, followed by the sub-clans: Beaver, Muskrat, Otter, Sturgeon, Mud Turtle, Sunfish, and Porcupine (“The Bear Clan – Speakers,” n.d.). The traditional responsibilities of the Bear Clan were to regulate civil affairs within the tribe (“The Bear Clan – Speakers,” n.d.). In the past, the Bear Clan were the ones who called general council meetings for the tribe and started the discussions, all of which followed a systematic procedure (“The Bear Clan – Speakers,” n.d.). The Bear Clan also made sure that any civil affairs were worked out fairly without any issues (“The Bear Clan – Speakers,” n.d.). 

Ecology and Distribution:

Awāēhsak are habitat generalists, meaning they use a variety of habitat types such as forests, open areas, and wetlands (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). Awāēhsak are omnivores and their diet includes berries, insects, fish, and deer fawns during the spring (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). Awāēhsak are abundant across the temperate regions of Turtle Island, including the Menominee homeland. In the region now known as Wisconsin, the awāēsāēh population is estimated to be more than 24,000 bears (WDNR, n.d.). The awāēsāēh population is more abundant within the northern part of this region, but the population’s abundance is growing and bears have started to become more common in southern areas (WDNR, n.d.). 

Climate Change Impacts:

In the region of the Menominee homeland, the awāēsāēh is considered less vulnerable to the impacts of climate change (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). Because awāēhsak are widespread and generalist animals, it is likely that they will be able to cope with most climate changes (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). However, climate change may still impact awāēhsak in the Menominee homeland. For example, the effects of climate change may alter the awāēsāēh's natural food supply. If there are issues with food supply in their natural habitat, they may venture toward areas with human populations in search of food (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). This movement may increase conflicts between awāēhsak and humans or attempts by bears to cross highways, which could result in higher mortality rates for bears (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). Warming winters may result in the flooding of winter dens, which may awaken awāēhsak early from hibernation and result in a greater risk of malnourishment when food resources are unavailable during the winter (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023).

Menominee: Mōs

English: Moose

Scientific Name: Alces americanus

Cultural Significance:

The Menominee has the Moose Clan, with the mōs being the primary clan, and its sub-clans include Elk, Marten, Fisher, and Raccoon (“The Moose Clan - People of the Wild Rice,” n.d.). The clan’s responsibility is to protect the manōmaeh (wild rice, Zizania palustris) beds during growing seasons, supervise the grain harvests, and distribute crops equitably among tribal members (“The Moose Clan - People of the Wild Rice,” n.d.). The Menominee are known as The People of the Wild Rice, reflecting its pivotal role to the tribe: the Menominee ancestral lands had an abundance of wild rice, where it grew in the shallows of rivers and lakes and provided the tribe with a nutritious and storable food source (“The Moose Clan - People of the Wild Rice,” n.d.). 

Ecology and Distribution:

Mōhsok are adapted for cold climates with their thick, insulating fur and large body size (National Wildlife Federation, n.d.). Mōhsok use several habitat types including wetlands, shrublands, and forests with streams or ponds (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023; National Wildlife Federation, n.d.). Mōhsok are herbivores and eat the leaves, bark, and twigs of trees as well as aquatic plants from ponds or streams (National Wildlife Federation, n.d.). Mōs are found in the northern regions of Turtle Island. They range from present-day Maine to Washington, throughout Canada, and extend into Alaska (National Wildlife Federation, n.d.). The region of the Menominee homeland represents a southern range limit for moose in Turtle Island (National Wildlife Federation, n.d.). Here, mōhsok were once more widespread and abundant, but have decreased since the mid-to-late 1800s (Williams, 2004). Very few mōs (fewer than 50 animals) remain in northern Wisconsin, north of the current Menominee Reservation, with somewhat larger but at-risk populations in neighboring northern Minnesota and Michigan (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). 

Climate Change Impacts:

In the region of the Menominee homeland, mōhsok are considered moderately to extremely vulnerable to climate change and have become a symbol of climate change impacts (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). There are direct and indirect impacts of climate change on mōs populations that are contributing to population declines (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). An example of a direct impact is heat stress from increasing temperatures (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). Indirect impacts include increasing prevalence of parasites and diseases, changes in vegetation and snow conditions, and increasing predation (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023).

Illustrated by Emerald Otradovec

Menominee: Mahwāēw

English: Gray wolf

Scientific Name: Canis lupus

Cultural Significance:

Many tribes across Turtle Island have the mahwāēw as one of their clan animals. The Menominee’s Wolf Clan members were traditionally known as the harvesters (The Wolf Clan - Harvesters, n.d.). The obligations of the Wolf Clan involved harvesting needed resources that were hunted, such as fish or birds (The Wolf Clan - Harvesters, n.d.). The Wolf Clan is made up of the following sub-clans: White-Tailed Deer, Pine Squirrel, Dog, and Fox (The Wolf Clan - Harvesters, n.d.).

Ecology and Distribution:

Mahwāēwak are habitat generalists, living in many different types of habitats and climates around the northern hemisphere (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). They are carnivores and their diet includes white-tailed deer, small mammals, and fish, though they are known to occasionally eat berries as well (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). Although they were once common throughout Turtle Island, mahwāēwak were extirpated from much of the continent, including the Menominee homeland, due to persecution by settlers (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). Today, mahwāēwak have returned and are growing in population in the Menominee homeland (Wisconsin DNR, n.d.). 

Climate Change Impacts:

In the region of the Menominee homeland, mahwāēwak are considered less vulnerable to the impacts of climate change (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). However, there are climate change factors that may affect mahwāēw populations (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). For instance, pathogens such as mange could increase and impact mahwāēw populations (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). In this region, white-tailed deer are projected to benefit from some climate change factors, which may result in increased prey availability for mahwāēwak (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). If human populations in the Great Lakes region increase due to climate-induced migrations (Van Berkel et al., 2022), increasing demands for food production and housing may reduce available habitat for mahwāēwak (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023).

Menominee: Otāēciah

English: Sandhill crane

Scientific Name: Grus canadensis

Cultural Significance:

The Crane Clan for the Menominee are known as the builders (“The Crane Clan - Menominee Builders,” n.d.). The Crane Clan were met with challenges of building and creating needed objects such as baskets, canoes, bags, and fish traps from materials that were offered by nature (“The Crane Clan - Menominee Builders,” n.d.). Mastering the knowledge of how to construct needed objects meant that the Crane Clan played an important role in maintaining the cultural practices and traditions of the Tribe (“The Crane Clan - Menominee Builders,” n.d.). The Crane Clan is made up of the following sub-clans: Great Blue Heron, Old Squaw Duck, Coot, Loon, and Turkey Buzzard (“The Crane Clan - Menominee Builders,” n.d.). 

Ecology and Distribution:

Otāēciahkok are omnivores and have a diet that consists of grains, small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and insects (International Crane Foundation, n.d.). Otāēciahkok are migratory birds (International Crane Foundation, n.d.). Their breeding grounds are in the northern part of Turtle Island, including the Menominee homeland, and their wintering grounds are in the southern part of Turtle Island (International Crane Foundation, n.d.). Otāēciahkok have two main types of habitats in the Menominee homeland: wetlands are mainly used for nesting, and open fields are mainly used for feeding (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023).

Climate Change Impacts:

In the region of the Menominee homeland, otāēciahkok are projected to be less to moderately vulnerable to climate change (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). Otāēciah populations have grown to the point where their abundance is unlikely to be significantly affected by climate change (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). However, they may still be vulnerable to climate change impacts such as the fluctuation of precipitation levels, increases in pathogens or predators, and other disturbances to their environment (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). Also, because otāēciahkok in the Menominee homeland are migratory, they may experience climate change impacts throughout their entire yearly range, including southern Turtle Island. For example, climate change and other disturbances in Florida negatively impact the nonmigratory Florida otāēciahkok subspecies (Grus canadensis pratensis); these impacts could also negatively affect otāēciahkok that migrate to Florida for winter (Climate Adaptation Explorer, n.d.).

Menominee: Kenēw

English: Golden eagle

Scientific Name: Aquila chrysaetos

Cultural Significance:

The Menominee Eagle Clan were known traditionally as the warriors (The Eagle Clan - Warriors, n.d.). Although the Menominee are known as peacekeepers, when war wasn’t avoidable, their strategies were defensive as opposed to offensive (The Eagle Clan - Warriors, n.d.). Eagle Clan members’ duties included military strategy planning and performing war-related ceremonies (The Eagle Clan - Warriors, n.d.). The Eagle Clan is made up of the following sub-clans: Crow, Raven, Red-Tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle, Fish Hawk, Sparrow Hawk, Winter Hawk, Fork Tail, and Swift-Flying Hawk (The Eagle Clan - Warriors, n.d.). 

Ecology and Distribution:

Kenēwak are carnivores and prey on small mammals and other birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, n.d.; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, n.d.). During the winter months, kenēwak may feed on deer carcasses or other carrion (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, n.d.; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, n.d.). The kenēw can be found globally throughout the northern hemisphere, and though they are present in the region of the Menominee homeland, they are more common in western Turtle Island (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, n.d.; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, n.d.). In the Menominee homeland, kenēw sightings are rare and primarily occur during the spring migration (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, n.d.; Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, 2019). Kenēwak can be found in a range of habitats including grasslands, cliffs and bluffs, open forests, and rural undeveloped areas (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, n.d.). Kenēwak nest on cliff sides or other escarpments (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, n.d.). 

Climate Change Impacts:

The author is not aware of any regionally-relevant climate change vulnerability assessments for kenēwak in the Menominee homeland, but information is available for bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus; GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). Similarities between these two beings might allow some inference of climate change impacts to kenēwak, though species-specific information would allow for a more complete understanding. Bald eagles are considered less to moderately vulnerable to climate change in the region of the Menominee homeland (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). As climate conditions change, the occurrence of diseases may change and impact eagle populations (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). Both kenēw and bald eagles may be impacted by genetic bottlenecks, which could impact their resilience to future climate changes (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). Kenēwak are migratory and may experience climate change impacts throughout their entire yearly range. For example, habitat loss due to increasing urban development, woody vegetation expansion, and changes in prey availability within their winter range in Alaska may negatively impact populations (McIntyre, C., 2022).

Climate Change Impacts on Wisconsin Turtles

Brief Oneida Clan System History: 

The development of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) clans began during a time in their history when their population was much lower than it is today, and there were concerns about differentiating families (“Clan Systems,” n.d.). To establish the clans, the eldest woman in each family observed a different animal that became the representative of each family group, or clan (“Clan Systems,” n.d.). The Haudenosaunee use a matriarchal clan system, meaning that clan identity is passed down through the mother in a family (“Clan Systems,” n.d.). Major clans include turtle, bear, and wolf (“Clan Systems,” n.d.).

For more information about the Oneida Clan system, visit the Oneida Nation Clan Systems.

Menominee: Maehkǣnāh ** (turtle singular)

Oneida: aˀno·wál (turtle singular)

English: Turtle

Scientific: Testudines

*I currently do not have the information for these individual species names (updated December 5, 2024).

**J. Gauthier, personal communication, November 21, 2024.

***R. King, personal communication, December 9, 2024.

Cultural Significance: 

There are multiple tribes on Turtle Island that have a turtle clan or sub-clan, including Anishinaabe, Mohawk, Oneida, and Menominee tribes. In some regional and non-regional Indigenous cultures, because of the role turtles have in creation stories, the term “Turtle Island” is used to refer to North America or the Earth.

Menominee: For the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, one of the sub-clans of the bear clan is the mud turtle clan (“The Bear Clan – Speakers,” n.d.). 

Oneida: In the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Creation Story, it is said that the earth was created on the back of a turtle, which is where life began to grow (“Clan Systems,” n.d.). The turtle clan represents the shifting of the earth and the moon cycles, which is why turtles have thirteen sections on their shells (“Clan Systems,” n.d.). The people of the turtle clan are known as the “well of information” and the “keepers of the land,” with responsibilities related to the environment (“Clan Systems,” n.d.). The Oneida word for “turtle clan” is nyahtʌ (knee-yaa-ta, listen here).

Ecology & Distribution:

In present day Wisconsin, there are 11 species of turtle beings  (WDNR, n.d.). In general, turtles in this region are primarily active from April to October (Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program, n.d.). Ten of the eleven species overwinter (November to March) buried in the substrate of the water or lay motionless at the bottom of the water; the other turtle (ornate box turtle) will burrow underground (“Turtles of Wisconsin,” n.d.; “Ornate Box Turtle,” n.d.). Daily activities of turtles include sleeping, basking, and foraging for food (Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program, n.d.). The diet style of turtles ranges between species and includes omnivores (false map turtles, Blanding’s turtles, painted turtles, northern map turtles, Ouachita map turtles, and wood turtles), herbivores (eastern musk turtles and ornate box turtles), and carnivores (snapping turtles, smooth softshell turtles, and spiny softshell turtles) (WDNR, n.d.). 

Turtle beings in this region vary in their habitat associations. Many turtles range from mostly aquatic to strictly aquatic (snapping turtles, musk turtles, painted turtles, common map turtles, Ouachita map turtles, false map turtles, smooth softshell turtles, and spiny softshell turtles) and can be found in rivers, streams, lakes, or backwaters (Turtles for Tomorrow, n.d.). Wood turtles are semi-aquatic and can be found in forested habitats that are near rivers or streams (Turtles for Tomorrow, n.d.). Blanding’s turtles are semi-terrestrial and can be found in marshes (Turtles for Tomorrow, n.d.). Ornate box turtles are strictly terrestrial and can be found in dry prairies and oak savannas that have deep sandy soils (Turtles for Tomorrow, n.d.). All these turtles need suitable upland habitats for laying and nesting their eggs and may travel significant distances in search of nest sites (Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation, 2016).

The eleven species of turtles in Wisconsin vary in conservation status (Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program, n.d.). Some turtle beings are considered common and widespread, including painted turtles, and others are locally common, such as Ouachita map turtles, common map turtles, and common musk turtles (Turtles for Tomorrow, n.d.). Unfortunately, other turtle beings are declining (snapping turtles and spiny softshell turtles), of special concern (smooth softshell turtles and false map turtles), threatened (wood turtles and Blanding’s turtles), or endangered (ornate box turtles) (Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program, n.d.). The primary threats to turtles in this region include habitat loss, overexploitation for the exotic pet, foreign food, and animal parts trades, disruptions to nesting areas, as well as mortality associated with infrastructure such as roads (“Effects of Environmental Change on Wisconsin Turtles,” n.d.; Turtles for Tomorrow, n.d.; Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program, n.d.).

Climate Change Impacts:

Globally, turtles are one of the most threatened vertebrate groups and many species worldwide have experienced population declines (“Effects of Environmental Change on Wisconsin Turtles,” n.d.). The range of conservation statuses among the eleven species of turtles in Wisconsin indicates a similar regional trend (see Ecology & Distribution section, above). Although the reasons vary as to why turtle beings are declining, including road-based mortality, habitat loss, disruptions to nesting areas, and overexploitation (“Effects of Environmental Change on Wisconsin Turtles,” n.d.), climate change may exacerbate these existing stressors and introduce new stressors. For example, increasing temperatures may impact the temperature-dependent sex determination of turtles, resulting in demographic impacts to their overall populations (“Effects of Environmental Change on Wisconsin Turtles,” n.d.). Climate change may also worsen wetland habitat loss by contributing to changes in hydrology, increases in sediment and nutrient loads, and the spread of non-local plant and animal beings (Converse, 2023). Because turtles have limited dispersal ability, they may not be able to move to new areas to cope with climate change impacts (Butler, 2019). In this region, snapping turtles are considered less to moderately vulnerable, painted turtles are less to moderately vulnerable, and wood turtles range from less to highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change (GLIFWC Climate Change Team, 2023). The other eight species of turtle beings in Wisconsin do not have formal vulnerability assessment ratings, but may experience similar vulnerability levels due to overlapping ecological associations and conservation threats. For example, one study found that Blanding’s turtles may lose much of their suitable habitat in Wisconsin under future climate change and may be lost from southern areas (Hamilton et al., 2018).

Illustrated by Emerald Otradovec

Written by Emerald Otradovec

Published on July 26th, 2024

Edited on December 13th, 2024