Ancient pathways, ancestral knowledge : ethnobotany and ecological wisdom of Indigenous peoples of Northwestern North America. Volume 1. The history and practice of Indigenous plant knowledge

Volume 1: The History and Practice of Indigenous Plant Knowledge Volume 2: The Place and Meaning of Plants in Indigenous Cultures and Worldviews Nancy Turner has studied Indigenous peoples' knowledge of plants and environments in northwestern North America for over forty years. In Ancient Pathways, Ancestral Knowledge, she integrates her research into a two-volume ethnobotanical tour-de-force. Drawing on information shared by Indigenous botanical experts and collaborators, the ethnographic and historical record, and from linguistics, palaeobotany, archaeology, phytogeography, and other fields, Turner weaves together a complex understanding of the traditions of use and management of plant resources in this vast region. She follows Indigenous inhabitants over time and through space, showing how they actively participated in their environments, managed and cultivated valued plant resources, and maintained key habitats that supported their dynamic cultures for thousands of years, as well as how knowledge was passed on from generation to generation and from one community to another. To understand the values and perspectives that have guided Indigenous ethnobotanical knowledge and practices, Turner looks beyond the details of individual plant species and their uses to determine the overall patterns and processes of their development, application, and adaptation. Volume 1 presents a historical overview of ethnobotanical knowledge in the region before and after European contact. The ways in which Indigenous peoples used and interacted with plants - for nutrition, technologies, and medicine - are examined. Drawing connections between similarities across languages, Turner compares the names of over 250 plant species in more than fifty Indigenous languages and dialects to demonstrate the prominence of certain plants in various cultures and the sharing of goods and ideas between peoples. She also examines the effects that introduced species and colonialism had on the region's Indigenous peoples and their ecologies. Volume 2 provides a sweeping account of how Indigenous organizational systems developed to facilitate the harvesting, use, and cultivation of plants, to establish economic connections across linguistic and cultural borders, and to preserve and manage resources and habitats. Turner describes the worldviews and philosophies that emerged from the interactions between peoples and plants, and how these understandings are expressed through cultures’ stories and narratives. Finally, she explores the ways in which botanical and ecological knowledge can be and are being maintained as living, adaptive systems that promote healthy cultures, environments, and indigenous plant populations. Ancient Pathways, Ancestral Knowledge both challenges and contributes to existing knowledge of Indigenous peoples' land stewardship while preserving information that might otherwise have been lost. Providing new and captivating insights into the anthropogenic systems of northwestern North America, it will stand as an authoritative reference work and contribute to a fuller understanding of the interactions between cultures and ecological systems. Nancy Turner Has Studied Indigenous Peoples' Knowledge Of Plants And Environments In Northwestern North America For Over Forty Years. In Ancient Pathways, Ancestral Knowledge, She Integrates Her Research Into A Two-volume Ethnobotanical Tour-de-force. Drawing On Information Shared By Indigenous Botanical Experts And Collaborators, The Ethnographic And Historical Record, And From Linguistics, Palaeobotany, Archaeology, Phytogeography, And Other Fields, Turner Weaves Together A Complex Understanding Of The Traditions Of Use And Management Of Plant Resources In This Vast Region. She Follows Indigenous Inhabitants Over Time And Through Space, Showing How They Actively Participated In Their Environments, Managed And Cultivated Valued Plant Resources, And Maintained Key Habitats That Supported Their Dynamic Cultures For Thousands Of Years, As Well As How Knowledge Was Passed On From Generation To Generation And From One Community To Another.^ To Understand The Values And Perspectives That Have Guided Indigenous Ethnobotanical Knowledge And Practices, Turner Looks Beyond The Details Of Individual Plant Species And Their Uses To Determine The Overall Patterns And Processes Of Their Development, Application, And Adaptation. Volume 1 Presents A Historical Overview Of Ethnobotonical Knowledge In The Region Before And After European Contact. The Ways In Which Indigenous Peoples Used And Interacted With Plants - For Nutrition, Technologies, And Medicine - Are Examined. Drawing Connections Between Similarities Across Languages, Turner Compares The Names Of Over 250 Plant Species In More Than Fifty Indigenous Languages And Dialects To Demonstrate The Prominence Of Certain Plants In Various Cultures And The Sharing Of Goods And Ideas Between Peoples. She Also Examines The Effects That Introduced Species And Colonialism Had On The Region's Indigenous Peoples And Their Ecologies.^ Volume 2 Provides A Sweeping Account Of How Indigenous Organizational Systems Developed To Facilitate The Harvesting, Use, And Cultivation Of Plants, To Establish Economic Connections Across Linguistic And Cultural Borders, And To Preserve And Manage Resources And Habitats. Turner Describes The Worldviews And Philosophies That Emerged From The Interactions Between Peoples And Plants, And How These Understandings Are Expressed Through Cultures' Stories And Narratives. Finally, She Explores The Ways In Which Botanical And Ecological Knowledge Can Be And Are Being Maintained As Living, Adaptive Systems That Promote Healthy Cultures, Environments, And Indigenous Plant Populations. Ancient Pathways, Ancestral Knowledge Both Challenges And Contributes To Existing Knowledge Of Indigenous Peoples' Land Stewardship While Preserving Information That Might Otherwise Have Been Lost.^ Providing New And Captivating Insights Into The Anthropogenic Systems Of Northwestern North America, It Will Stand As An Authoritative Reference Work And Contribute To A Fuller Understanding Of The Interactions Between Cultures And Ecological Systems.--publisher's Description. Volume One. The History And Practice Of Indigenous Plant Knowledge -- Volume Two. The Place And Meaning Of Plants In Indigenous Cultures And Worldviews. Nancy J. Turner. Legal Deposit Second Quarter 2014--title Pages Verso. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Issued Also In Electronic Format. Volume 1: The History and Practice of Indigenous Plant Knowledge Volume 2: The Place and Meaning of Plants in Indigenous Cultures and Worldviews Nancy Turner has studied Indigenous peoples' knowledge of plants and environments in northwestern North America for over forty years. In Ancient Pathways, Ancestral Knowledge, she integrates her research into a two-volume ethnobotanical tour-de-force. Drawing on information shared by Indigenous botanical experts and collaborators, the ethnographic and historical record, and from linguistics, palaeobotany, archaeology, phytogeography, and other fields, Turner weaves together a complex understanding of the traditions of use and management of plant resources in this vast region. She follows Indigenous inhabitants over time and through space, showing how they actively participated in their environments, managed and cultivated valued plant resources, and maintained key habitats that supported their dynamic cultures for thousands of years, as well as how knowledge was passed on from generation to generation and from one community to another. To understand the values and perspectives that have guided Indigenous ethnobotanical knowledge and practices, Turner looks beyond the details of individual plant species and their uses to determine the overall patterns and processes of their development, application, and adaptation. Volume 1 presents a historical overview of ethnobotonical knowledge in the region before and after European contact. The ways in which Indigenous peoples used and interacted with plants - for nutrition, technologies, and medicine - are examined. Drawing connections between similarities across languages, Turner compares the names of over 250 plant species in more than fifty Indigenous languages and dialects to demonstrate the prominence of certain plants in various cultures and the sharing of goods and ideas between peoples. She also examines the effects that introduced species and colonialism had on the region's Indigenous peoples and their ecologies. Volume 2 provides a sweeping account of how Indigenous organizational systems developed to facilitate the harvesting, use, and cultivation of plants, to establish economic connections across linguistic and cultural borders, and to preserve and manage resources and habitats. Turner describes the worldviews and philosophies that emerged from the interactions between peoples and plants, and how these understandings are expressed through cultures’ stories and narratives. Finally, she explores the ways in which botanical and ecological knowledge can be and are being maintained as living, adaptive systems that promote healthy cultures, environments, and indigenous plant populations. Ancient Pathways, Ancestral Knowledge both challenges and contributes to existing knowledge of Indigenous peoples' land stewardship while preserving information that might otherwise have been lost. Providing new and captivating insights into the anthropogenic systems of northwestern North America, it will stand as an authoritative reference work and contribute to a fuller understanding of the interactions between cultures and ecological systems Frontmatter Figures and Tables (page ix) Volume One Preface and Acknowledgments (page xv) Note on the Writing System Used in This Book (page xxxi) 1. Introduction to the Book: Ethnobotanical and Ethnoecological Knowledge across Time and Space (page 3) PART ONE | HISTORY 2. Into the Past: Ancient Relationships among People, Plants, and Environments (page 43) 3. Reflections on Plant Names in Understanding the History of People-Plant Relationships (page 117) 4. Change, Loss, and Adaptation of Plant Traditions (page 191) PART TWO | DEVELOPMENT 5. Plants as Food: Development, Diversity, Dissemination (page 263) 6. Plant Use in Technology over Time and Space (page 335) 7. Herbal Medicine and Healing Traditions (page 415) Appendix 1: Major Sources of Information for the Book (page 467) Appendix 2: Names of Selected Native Plant Species in Indigenous Languages of Northwestern North America (page 473) Appendix 3: Names of Two Introduced Plants (Turnip and Potato) in Indigenous Languages of Northwestern North America (page 507) Notes (page 515) Figures and Tables (page ix) Volume Two Preface (page xiii) PART THREE | INTEGRATION AND MANAGEMENT 8. Moving for the Harvest: Seasonal Rounds and Plant Knowledge (page 3) 9. Cultural Institutions Related to Ethnobotanical Knowledge and Practice (page 51) 10. Trade and Exchange: Sharing Plant Products and Ethnobotanical Knowledge across Geographical and Cultural Space (page 101) 11. Management and Sustainability of Plant Resources and Habitats (page 145) PART FOUR | UNDERLYING PHILOSOPHY 12. Narratives in Transmission of Ethnobotanical Knowledge (page 231) 13. Worldview and Belief Systems in Ethnobotanical Knowledge Systems (page 297) 14. Ancient Pathways and New Pathways for Retaining and Renewing Botanical and Environmental Knowledge Systems for the Future (page 351) Notes (page 413) References (page 441) Index of Plant Species (page 503) General Index (page 513)