#16 Nancy Turner on the Wisdom of Elders, Coastal Plants and Culture, and Indigenous People’s Land Rights - a podcast by Todd Howard

from 2020-06-12T18:31:44

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Nancy Turner is a rare, venerated human being who, in service of people and the planet, has boldly followed her life’s purpose for more than half a century. For nearly 20 years, I have repeatedly come across her work as a world-renowned ethnobotanist and ethnoecologist and have conducted countless Pacific Rim College faculty interviews of those who have studied under her and have been influenced by her. An Emeritus Professor at the University of Victoria, Nancy’s research integrates the fields of botany and ecology with anthropology, geography, and linguistics. She is passionate about the traditional knowledge systems and traditional land and resource management systems of Indigenous Peoples, particularly in Western Canada.

As we discuss in this episode, Nancy has worked intimately and extensively with First Nations elders and cultural specialists in northwestern North America, and especially along the coast of British Columbia. She shares many stories of how elders have deeply influenced her and her work, and we explore the complexity and symmetry of indigenous languages as they relate to plants. Nancy also shares her deep passion about Indigenous Peoples’ land rights and title, and we discuss possible steps toward reconciliation.

Nancy Turner has authored and co-authored numerous books including Ancient Pathways, Ancestral Knowledge and her forthcoming book Plants, People, and Places. She has also authored over 150 book chapters and peer-reviewed papers, and numerous other publications.

As I tell Nancy in this episode, she is a priceless asset to our planet and all who care about the preservation of indigenous knowledge, language, and culture and the plants that we all share. Worth mentioning, she is also a beautiful and deeply respectful individual, and it is my sincere honour to share this conversation with her.

So make yourself a steaming cup of Douglas fir tip tea and snuggle up to this ethnobotanical exploration.

Episode Links:

Nancy’s University of Victoria Bio Page

Books by Nancy Turner:

Plants, People, and Places

Ancient Pathways, Ancestral Knowledge

The Earth’s Blanket

Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples

Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms of North America

Food Plants of Interior First Peoples

Plant Technology of First Peoples in British Columbia

Plants of Haida Gwaii