Week 3 Small Group

Introduction to Ethnobiology

By Pah-tu Pitt (Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs member) T EGL 365 Indigenous Ethnobiology

Mask by Sean Gallagher (Inupiat)

Tradeways and relationships associated Nchiwana or the Big River, Columbia River

Traditional Homelands

Celilo Falls

CRITFC

Settler colonialism is different from other

forms of colonialism in that settlers come

with

the intention of making a new home on

the land, a homemaking that insists on

settler sovereignty

over all things in their new domain. (Tuck

and Yang 2012)

The Decolonizing Institutions Authors

● Note that: “Ethnobiology, like many fields, was shaped by early Western imperial efforts to colonize

people and lands around the world and extract natural resources. “

● Call for challenging “colonization, racism, an oppressive structures within institutions, and among

researchers”

● They encourage research questions that support Tribal Sovereignty, local communities, with self-

reflection on engagement

● The following are visuals and notes are from their works which are a part of week one readings, unless

otherwise noted

Some helpful terms, please note definitions vary ● Self-Determination-The right to govern own affairs without outside interference

● Tribal Sovereignty, “ right to govern themselves. The U.S. Constitution recognizes Indian tribes as

distinct governments and they have, with a few exceptions, the same powers as federal and state

governments to regulate their internal affairs. Sovereignty for tribes includes the right to establish

their own form of government, determine membership requirements, enact legislation and establish

law enforcement and court systems.

● “Treaties are legally binding contracts between sovereign nations that establish those nations’ political

and property relations. Article Six of the United States Constitution holds that treaties ‘are the

supreme law of the land.’” CRITFC

● Treaties include responsibilities on both sides

Ethnobiology

Definition: “Ethnobiology is the study of the biological knowledge of particular ethnic groups—cultural

knowledge about plants and animals and their interrelationships,” (Anderson et al., 2011 pg.1).

-Interdisciplinary Field

-the real differences between cultures (Ellen 1993) and the strong influence of utilitarian reality on systems

(Hunn 1982, 2011) shows that science, whether folk or contemporary, is indeed a cultural construction,”

(Anderson et al., 2011 pg.4)

Traditional Ecological Knowledge

“Traditional Ecological Knowledge, also called by other names including Indigenous Knowledge or Native Science, (hereafter, TEK) refers to the evolving knowledge acquired by indigenous and local peoples over hundreds or thousands of years through direct contact with the environment.

This knowledge is specific to a location and includes the relationships between plants, animals, natural phenomena, landscapes and timing of events that are used for lifeways, including but not limited to hunting, fishing, trapping, agriculture, and forestry.”

USFWS (2021)

EthnoEcology contribution to Ethnobiology

“Ecology provides two important principles for the development of an integrating approach

to ethnobiology, the concept of the ecosystem, and the biological population as a quantifying

variable in ecological models,” (Anderson et al.,2011, pg 19).

● Going beyond cataloguing plants to include information like chemical compounds and spiritual

meaning

● Greater understanding of harm that local populations face and right to safety

● Desire to better understand Indigenous Management

Ethnobotany is plant relationships with people a sub discipline of Ethnobiology

“...as practitioners entered it with different training and interests. Studies about basketry, textiles (Safford 1914), dyes, medicines (Smith 1929), hallucinogens, especially peyote (La Barre 1970), and food plants (Waugh 1914; Yanovsky 1936) appeared. These were topics of anthropological interest. (Anderson et al.,2011, pg 17) ● Now includes production probably in relation to gdp ● Nomenclature ● Increased expectation for ethical frameworks

Walrus mask by Sean Gallagher (Inupiat)

Ethnozoology

definition:...” the study of the past and present interrelationships between cultures and the animals in their environment,” (Anderson et al.,2011, pg 17). It is a sub discipline of Ethnobiology

“Zooarchaeology employs the techniques used by morphological zoologists, compa- rative anatomical studies, and DNA analyses,” (Anderson et al.,2011, pg 18).

Consider the phase that

your sources are

operating from

Consider these actions as you create your essay. For instance you might note commentary on how these actions are described in your sources (McAlvay et al., 2021)

(McAlvay et al., 2021)

Consider these as you engage with Ethnobiology. What are some other ways you might take action? (McAlvay et al., 2021)