Levi Martin, Elder, Tla-O-Qui-Aht First Nation a Profile by Josie Osborne
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Volume 1, Issue 3 October 2009 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Levi Martin, Elder, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation Profile: Levi Martin 2 A profile by Josie Osborne ISE Special 3 Sessions at the “When I was six years “fighter and hunter.” He set up snares, 12th ISE Congress old, on my first day at trapped birds, and spent many hours Pre-Congress 5 Kakawis [the Christie outdoors near Opitsaht. Levi was the Workshops Indian Residential youngest of 16 children, all born to George Update on the 13th school], my older and Martha Martin. Nuu-chah-nulth was his 6 brother spoke to me in first language, since he had no need to speak ISE Congress English and told me to English until he was sent to the Christie Call for proposals 7 do something. I didn’t Indian Residential school for native children to host the 14th do it, because I didn’t run by the Catholic Church from 1898 until ISE Congress understand him. 1983. Some might say Levi was fortunate in Another older boy had to explain it to me in that the Christie School, at Kakawis, was only Sacred seeds field 7 our language. I made up my mind then to a few miles from his home and parents, but report from Peru learn English.” those few miles represented a wide gulf Members’ Space 9 I can imagine Levi then – as a small boy in between place and cultures for young on the ISE Website 1950 – determinedly learning a new language children like Levi. He attended residential so he could communicate with everyone school for about four years (rather than ten Need for Bio- 9 or more like some others) and at age 11 cultural Mapping around him. Today, Levi is a powerful communicator with a lifetime of experiences returned home to Opitsaht to continue his Profile: Inter- 10 that have taught him the value of listening schooling. As a teenager, he moved to national Funders and reflecting. Vancouver for vocational school. There, he for Indigenous took a carpentry course and worked as a Peoples Levi was born in Opitsaht, a Tla-o-qui-aht carpenter for one year, but he found that “… First Nations village on Meares Island, on the it wasn’t my calling.” Report from the 11 west coast of Vancouver Island near Tofino. Society of As a boy, he was given the name Kaa-mitsk, (Continued on page 2) Economic Botany Upcoming Events 11 FROM THE EDITORIAL TEAM Ethnobiologist’s 12 In this issue you will meet Levi conferences, news and experts as well as feature Bookshelf Martin, the Nuu-chah-nulth announcements. different sub-disciplines of News and 15 elder on the ISe Congress The ISE Newsletter will have ethnobiology. Announcements organizing committee, learn articles on research, We invite your feedback, Get involved with 16 about special ISE sessions community, and students, suggestions, and submissions. the ISE planned for the 12th ISE ethnobiology in the news and With warm regards, Congress, and find activities in international policy ISE Membership 17 information about pre- fora, updates on ISE activities, Leslie Main Johnson, Drive Congress workshops. and book reviews and ISE Secretary, announcements. We plan to Newsletter Editor Additionally, there is a include profiles of community research piece on Sacred Natasha Duarte, knowledge holders, academic Seeds in Peru, as well as short ISE Coordinator researchers, and policy reports on recent www.ethnobiology.net Page 2 ISE Newsletter Levi Martin, Elder, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation A profile by Josie Osborne other Nuu-chah-nulth tribes. This was Cusco, Peru, I hope that you will in his opportunity to share knowledge, May 2010, when he and other wisdom, and a “different way of doing members of the Tla-o-qui-aht First things.” Nations will welcome the In 1981, he attended a residential International Society of Ethnobiology to the Ha-houlthee (territory) of treatment centre for alcohol and drug th treatment that specializes in First their Ha’wiih (chiefs) for the 12 Nations culture and Holistic healing Congress of the ISE. We all hope to methods. Back at home, it became see you here. increasingly important to Levi to ensure that the Tla-o-qui-aht were Josie Osborne, a learning as much as possible about marine biologist and their history and culture in environmental preparation for treaty. For Levi, this is educator, is the chair about “…getting back to the way of of the Organizing our people, to fight for ourselves Committee for the instead of waiting for the [Canadian] 12th International Congress of government.” Coming full circle to Ethnobiology in May 2010 in Tofino, reflect on his early years and Canada. Read Josie’s bio here. experiences at residential school, Levi began to do more healing work. Levi Martin at the 11th ISE Congress in Cusco, Peru. June When I first met him in the late 2008. Photograph by Josie 1990s, Levi was part of the Nuu-chah- Osborne. nulth Healing Project, a decade-long project in which facilitators like Levi worked with Nuu-chah-nulth Levi returned to Opitsaht in the survivors of Indian Residential early 1960s and got involved in a Schools, assisting people from the thriving industry – logging. But as victim stage, through to the survivor more and more tourists began to stage, and finally to the thriving stage. visit Tofino and Clayoquot Sound in Today, Levi indeed thrives. He is an the late 1960s, he began a water Elder and an elected councilor of the taxi business and took tourists out Tla-o-qui-aht government. He is often to see whales and to go fishing. called upon to open meetings and This business was one of the most ceremonies, which he does in the enjoyable professions he Nuu-chah-nulth language – with a soft undertook, “I liked it because I was yet powerful chant accompanied by a busy and the money was good. I kelp rattle which, along with other was the first water taxi in medicine, he keeps in the fanny pack Clayoquot Sound.” that is ever-present around his waist. In 1976, Levi began making some He is consulted by many people, Tla-o important changes in his life which -qui-aht, Nuu-chah-nulth, and non- laid the foundation for where he is Nuu-chah-nulth people like me. His today. He left the water taxi Nuu-chah-nulth name today, which business and began carving and was given to him by his older brother painting. He also began teaching – 15 years ago, is Kaa-muth, “one who Levi Martin on Meares Island, near native art and the Nuu-chah-nulth is all knowing.” Tofino, British Columbia, Canada, language – to younger Tla-o-qui-aht If you did not meet Levi in 2008 in Peru. June 2009. Photograph by members as well as members of Gleb Raygorodetsky. www.ethnobiology.net Volume 1, Issue 3 Page 3 ISE special sessions planned for the 12th ISE Congress in Tofino, British Columbia, Canada (9-14 May 2010) The ISE has four special sessions planned for the upcoming International Congress of Ethnobiology: 1. An evening session on the ISE Re-Envisioning process 2. An evening session on the ISE Code of Ethics 3. A half-day workshop on the ISE Code of Ethics Toolkit 4. A half-day session on Policy and Advocacy within the ISE Read on for more information on these sessions and find out how you can become more involved in the Society! Re-Envisioning the ISE action. that conveys the spirit and vision of Over twenty years ago, Indigenous In 2008, the ISE initiated a process to the ISE: where we came from, where and traditional peoples met with revisit the founding vision and to we've been and where we see scientists and environmentalists to chart a self-sustaining future with a ourselves headed. There is an discuss a common strategy to halt continued commitment to fostering true intangible quality to the in-person the rapid decrease in the planet's dialogue and effective action. As part exchanges of the ISE that we hope to biological and cultural diversity. At of this exercise, the ISE brought express to a larger audience in this this first International Congress of together a small group of way. Ethnobiology, scientists and international contemporary ‘thinkers During the Congress we will hold a environmentalists agreed on at the edge’ to an intensive working special evening session on the ISE Re responsibilities to address the needs session in Tofino (Canada) to identify -Envisioning process which will of Indigenous and local communities what is most needed today from include a showing of the ISE video, in preserving their cultural diversity ethnobiologists and to consider the presentation of the and being involved in global aspects role that the ISE can play in the ever- recommendations from the Re- of biodiversity. The International increasing human rights and Envisioning process, and open Society of Ethnobiology (ISE) was ecological crises of the twenty-first discussion of different ways that the formed at this meeting in 1988 and century. We will be exploring the ISE can continue making its unique continues to address relevant issues outcomes of this Retreat with the contributions into the future as a self in safeguarding cultural and biological ISE membership in the months -sustaining organization. diversity. The ISE has evolved in leading up to the Congress. Come give us your feedback and find organizational structure while An institutional ethnography is being out how you can tangibly contribute maintaining its mission to foster created as part of the ISE Re- to the future of the ISE! meaningful dialogue and effective Envisioning process - a short video The ISE Code of Ethics by the ISE Membership at the 10th support adoption and Evening Session International Congress of implementation of the Code; and The ISE Global Coalition for Ethnobiology in 2006.