The 2008 ESA meeting convenes within the ancestral homelands of the Potawatomi Nation, closely bordered by present day Menominee, Oneida, Ho-chunk, and Ojibway. The Wisconsin hills and valleys were once, and still contain remnants of, a rich intermix of hardwood and conifer forests, tribal agriculture, and wetland complexes of rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. Many different languages were spoken by the indigenous tribal cultures in this region. Present-day tribal cultures reflect complex histories of land and water management. This year we are privileged to host representatives from Potawatomi, Menominee, and Ojibway Nations. Included are traditional practitioners and elders, the harvesters of forests and waters, with an intimate knowledge of local landscapes, as well as being highly respected community leaders. Presenters will share their multi-faceted understanding of the region from the perspective of people shaped by their landscape. Panelists will discuss linking and maintaining cultural and biological diversity of the region with research and educational programs within their communities.