“It’s important to provide projects such as this because it highlights the significant changes that are made both environmentally as well as man-made,” Ornelas said. “Students can experience firsthand why native plant restoration is so vital to the continuance of culture, tradition and environmental longevity.”ĭagostino and Ornelas combine their classes whenever possible so students have both scientific as well as cultural context to enhance the curriculum of both departments. “The project is very much about the future,” she said. “It will take time (several years) to recover, but the students should see positive results right away and be able to watch it getting better every year,” Dagostino said.įor the project, Ornelas said they discussed what native plants would provide the best opportunity for growth, what plants would be most traditional to the space and that would allow them to create cultural resources that could be used throughout Noli’s cultural and school programs. They also learn about soil content during the process. He said most students want to learn the names of the plants, why each native plant is important and why the weeds are harmful. “Most students are not exposed to this kind of work until college.” “I won’t have to give them a fake example of this kind of work for them to analyze because they did it themselves,” Dagostino said. They also use the data they collect to complete the scientific process through their use of the scientific method. In addition to the project aligning perfectly with the Biology curriculum in the areas of ecology and habitat restoration, students get participation points for the field work they do. Along with Ornelas, the collaboration also includes Noli science and oceanography teacher Sabrina Sobel and Soboba’s Cultural Resource and Tribal Environmental departments. “That’s when I decided to start the project with other stakeholders and my students,” he said. Due to erosion caused by flooding and other issues, soil had been imported from outside the reservation, which is what most likely led to the invasion.

Teaching at the school for the past 10 years, Dagostino noticed native plants were declining and non-native weeds were taking over in a wildlife site behind the school that he and Noli Cultural Teacher Tashina Ornelas use for their classes.

Utilizing an area of the Soboba Reservation adjacent to the school campus, students are learning about habitat restoration of native plants.

Noli Indian School students in Jay Dagostino’s science classes are getting hands-on lessons in biology, ecology and environmental science. Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians | Contributed

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