ETHNOBIOLOGY IN 1 Volume 3, Issue 2 December 2011 ASIA INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

WILD EDIBLE HERBS 1 IN ASIA: THE ROOT BRIDGES 3 LIVELIHOOD AND POTENTIAL CONSERVATION ROLES OF WILD EDIBLE HERBS OF CHERRAPUNJI Contributed by ISE member R.P. Harisha

HLIB JIANGL NAOX 4 Traditional communal area resources are mostly NIEX described as open access resources and are frequently ISE Darrell Posey 6 associated with over-utilization and poor management Fellowship Program of the natural resources therein. Yet it is those’ NO NEED FOR 6 unproductive and impoverished lands’ that support and SHAME supply diverse sources of important biological VIDEO EN LAS 8 resources from which local people benefit. COMUNIDADES Over 80% of poor rural households are known to THE DARRELL POSEY 10 depend on Wild Edible Herbs (WEHs) in Indian forest ARCHIVE fringe areas. As a result, the daily usage of WEHs is a ASAPP AFTER THE 12 significant, yet underestimated component of livelihoods, biodiversity, land use and ISE DARRELL POSEY land cover. This underestimation results from the lack of monetization of the SMALL GRANT consumption of these resources at the household level, and the lack of formal LA ASAPP DESPUÉS 15 markets, and hence they are not captured in national level accounting. However, DEL DARREL POSEY they may account for a considerable proportion of the total biodiversity in natural SMALL GRANT and subsistence ecosystems. CONFERENCE AND 19 Of the over 15000 (33.1%) higher plant species in Indian tropical forest, a wide range WORKSHOP REPORTS of them are harvested for WEH purposes. In particular, dozens of plants are used as ON FOREST FOODS, A 19 wild food plants; harvested from and around arable fields, scrub wood lands, FESTIVAL AND COMMUNITY wetlands, and homesteads. Several families of plants are used, with the genera Amaranthus, Cleome, Solanum and Dioscoria being the most conspicuous.

2ND ISE EASTERN- 22 The amount of wild edible plants consumed in forest fringe areas of India are known EUROPEAN to range from 12 to over 130 kg per household per year, with a single household ETHNOBIOLOGY using as many as 25 species. However, not much information exists on the cultivation WORKSHOP and domestication of most of these wild edible plants. (continued on page 2)

ANNOUNCEMENTS 23 FROM THE ISE FROM THE EDITORIAL TEAM

This issue features articles If you are interested in With warm regards, from India and China, updates contributing material for a ETHNOBIOLOGIST’S 23 Leslie Main Johnson, from past recipients of the ISE future issue of the newsletter, BOOKSHELF ISE Newsletter Editor Darrell Posey Fellowship please see the guidelines on ISE MEMBERSHIP awards, conference and the ISE website. 24 Natasha Duarte, DRIVE workshop reports, and special We invite your feedback, announcements from the ISE. suggestions, and submissions. ISE Coordinator

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ETHNOBIOLOGY IN ASIA: LIVELIHOOD AND POTENTIAL CONSERVATION ROLES OF WILD EDIBLE HERBS (CONTINUED) Contributed by ISE member R.P. Harisha

conservation and the needs, which has long term environment in which they occur. repercussions for local species The biggest challenges facing the diversity and endemism. conservation of wild edible species, just as several other species, is cultivating them -ex situ, domestication, and the management practices associated with them. Conservation benefits Mr. Shivanna belongs to Soliga of herbaceous species may be community; he is living in Keernahola village place where our Community through their ability to adapt and based Conservation Center (CCC) provide ground cover with the located. He is holding Heliotropium potential to minimize soil erosion. strigosum (Kogge gida in Kannada) They may also contribute to belongs to Boraginaceae family. He has been using leaf of this plant for improving the humus content of curing ear pain and related problems. the soil through their root systems, and be ploughed to The socio-economic status of provide green manure in organic individual households (e.g., viticulture. Regrettably, Wealth, gender of household herbaceous species well adapted They are belong to Soliga head, location of community and to their local environments are community from Anehola village; ) could potentially often classified as weeds; they they are documenting wild edible plants in the forest. He is holding influence the use of wild edible face replacement with more fruits of Dimocarpus longan plants. In the Malai Madeshwara costly non-endemic species to (Gudagan jagadi) belong to family Hills Reserve Forest of Southern meet soil and water conservation Sapindaceae which are edible. India, the mean consumption frequency of wild edible plants per household and per capita was higher for poorer households than The author and tribal people are the richer households. having seasoned In spite of the importance of wild tuber (Dioscoriea edible herbs in the complex pentaphylla) for livelihood network that involves lunch during wild edible plants survey extraction from marginal lands in middle of the and agro-ecosystems, their forest. economic and land restoration potentials are little known. Therefore, the assessment of the value of lesser-known but useful R.P. Harisha is a Research Associate, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the plant species must tally their Environment (ATREE). Royal Enclave, Sriramapura, Jakkur Post. Bangalore -560064 Karnataka State, India. Email: [email protected]; Contact No: 91-80-23635555; contributions to biodiversity and Fax: 91-80-23530070; Website: www.atree.org

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ETHNOBIOLOGY IN ASIA: THE ROOT BRIDGES OF CHERRAPUNJI: CENTURIES-OLD BRIDGES, GROWN FROM TANGLED ROOTS Reproduced with permission from Atlas Obscura

them can support the weight of fifty or more people at a time. Because they are alive and still growing, the bridges actually gain strength over time - and some of the ancient root bridges used daily by the people of the villages around Cherrapunji may be well over five hundred years old.

The living bridges of Cherrapunji, India are made from the roots of the Ficus elastica tree. This tree produces a series of secondary roots from higher up its trunk and can comfortably perch atop huge boulders along the riverbanks, or even in the middle of the rivers themselves. Cherrapunji is credited with being the wettest place One special root bridge, believed to be the only on earth, and The War-Khasis, a in Meghalaya, one of its kind in the world, is actually two bridges long ago noticed this tree and saw in its powerful stacked one over the other and has come to be roots an opportunity to easily cross the area's many known as the "Umshiang Double-Decker Root rivers. Now, whenever and wherever the need arises, Bridge." they simply grow their bridges. These bridges were re-discovered by Denis P. In order to make a rubber tree's roots grow in the Rayen of the Cherrapunji Holiday Resort. Due to right direction- say, over a river - the Khasis use his efforts to promote interest in the bridges, the betel nut trunks, sliced down the middle and local has been alerted to their hollowed out, to create root-guidance systems. The potential worth and kept them from being thin, tender roots of the rubber tree, prevented from destroyed in favor of steel ones. What's more, a fanning out by the betel nut trunks, grow straight new root bridge is currently being grown and out. When they reach the other side of the river, should be ready for use within a decade. they're allowed to take root in the soil. Given enough To see more photos, please visit Atlas Obscura time, a sturdy, living bridge is produced. The root bridges, some of which are over a hundred feet long, take ten to fifteen years to become fully functional, but they're extraordinarily strong - strong enough that some of www.ethnobiology.net Page 4 ISE Newsletter

ETHNOBIOLOGY IN ASIA: HLIB JIANGL NAOX NIEX Contributed by ISE Member Amy Eisenberg

While serving as an International rice wine. Litsea mollis are processed for its Expert in Hunan Province of Pounded glutinous rice cakes are aromatic oil, whose main southwest China at the Research prepared and shared with guests chemical constituents are citral Institute of and for this very special occasion and and geraniol, which are used as , Jishou University in Maid Wux' mother stored many food flavorings, cosmetics and impoverished Xiangxi large cakes in the granary of their spices. Litsea seeds also contain Autonomous Minority Prefecture, house. Glutinous rice cakes are oil and are applied as a main Maid Wux, my Hmong graduate delicious and very filling. ingredient in soaps. student took us to her high The roots, fruits and seeds of this mountain village of Hlib Jiangl in plant are all used medicinally. The the rural reaches of Guizhou seed oil is taken for stomach Province to celebrate Naox Niex, ailments, and the fruits are the Hmong New Year in employed for treating colds, as an November. anodyne and antiemetic, and for We shared some wonderful days regulating the flow of vital in her beautiful village, where the energy. Litsea imparts a light and air is cool and fresh and the water citrus-like flavor to food, which is is sweet. Hlib Jiangl is a remote Naox Niex: glutinous rice cakes very pleasing to the palate and mountain village with handsome (sticky rice), traditionally made and soothing for digestion. Zat zaid wooden Hmong traditional eaten during the new year. jiangl is an important wild plant houses where golden corn and We were invited to a number of of the region for the Hmong millet are hung to dry beneath homes for diverse and lavish people of Hlib Jiangl. the eaves. feasts of soups, meats and A central wooden totem pole or Cascading terraces of diversified vegetables. The Hmong use the post with detailed relief carvings agriculture cover the medicinal, fragrant and is central to every Hmong village. mountainous landscape of this refreshing buds, fruits and seeds Blood is smeared on this post in peaceful, highly organized and of Zat zaid jiangl, Litsea mollis Hlib Jiangl as a sacrifice for Naox clean Hmong settlement. Hmong Hemsley in the Lauraceae for Niex - the New Year. is Maid Wux' first language and flavoring soups and other dishes. Hmong grandmothers in Hlib this beautiful and endangered The globose fruits turn blue-black Jiangl spin cotton and weave local language is spoken fluently upon maturity and are used in garments and tapestries of cotton and daily in Hlib Jiangl, which is Hmong culinary preparations. fiber in the village square for comprised of more than one Litsea mollis is a deciduous shrub Naox Niex. Hmong clothing is thousand residents. Hmong or small tree that grows up to 4 intricately embroidered with people informed us that there are m tall. Its leaves are alternate and representations of animals and more than 160 dialects of their the young branchlets are covered plants of the region. language spoken in China. with pubescence. This species Intergenerational designs were The Hmong of Hlib Jiangl are very grows in moist thickets or broad- developed long ago by great kind, gracious, genuine and leaved forests on mountain grandmothers and their elders, generous people who welcomed slopes between 600-2800 m. who gave the significant motifs to us with sweet songs and fed us The branches, leaves and fruits of their children. The offspring have

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ETHNOBIOLOGY IN ASIA: HLIB JIANGL NAOX NIEX (CONTINUED) Contributed by ISE Member Amy Eisenberg

kept these images alive and were and Kai Li to share the elaborate people and sacrifices are offered inspired to build upon them and and colorful performances of to this tree. create other patterns. Hmong music and dance. The My Hmong graduate student, Today, these dynamic and men played and danced Hoxsolwangd, has been detailed depictions live, and rhythmically and gracefully with researching and documenting adorn the garments of young their bamboo lusheng and manto endangered Hmong languages for Hmong women who will then bass instruments. Thousands of more than a decade and has pass them down to their children. Hmong people came from many made significant contributions in villages of the region to perform Hmong elders of Hlib Jiangl are the field of . Hmong and appreciate the richness, strong, healthy and extremely students of China and I meaning and diversity of their hearty women whose traditional established an international cross traditions. We traveled to -cultural relationship with the indigenous knowledge is highly Nanhua, a small and beautiful respected and valued. The young Hmong Cultural Center in the Hmong mountain village in USA. watched their elders weaving and Guizhou to share the Naox Niex spinning with great interest. We performances. A large sacred tree Hmong people are very poor in hope that the Hmong youth will stands in the central circle of the autonomous regions of China glean these specialized every Hmong village. The divine and rural to urban migration is techniques that have been tree is the ancestor of the Hmong widespread. The gap between the intergenerational for many rich and poor ever widens. centuries. Timber companies have cheated Indigofera tinctoria L. is a plant in Hmong villagers by taking their the Fabaceae that produces a forest resources. There are many natural blue-black colorant that is vital needs that are not being met widely used to dye detailed and local governments are not Hmong batik works. Gossypium L. effectively assisting Hmong in the Malvaceae is grown in peoples and their impoverished nearby fields for spinning and villages in southwest China. weaving cloth that is dyed blue- Gender inequity is an unfortunate black with Indigofera. Hmong reality in these areas and girls silversmiths create intricate have lagged behind with regard ancestral designs in their to basic education, which their silverwork that are representative families were required to pay for. of their history, stories, teachings If unaffordable, young girls did and natural environment. not attend school but helped with Magnificent silver headdresses work at home. adorn young Hmong women in Poverty and inequity are their finely embroidered violations of human rights. There traditional clothing. are many homeless elders and Naox Niex is celebrated in Hmong Blood is smeared on this post in Hlib children and developmentally villages throughout Guizhou Jiangl as a sacrifice for Naox Niex - disabled in the autonomous Province. We traveled to Leishan the New Year. regions of China. I strongly www.ethnobiology.net Page 6 ISE Newsletter

ETHNOBIOLOGY IN ASIA: HLIB JIANGL NAOX NIEX (CONTINUED) Contributed by ISE Member Amy Eisenberg

I contacted various international organizations and the Chinese government for assistance. If China can host international tourists for the Olympics, then I sincerely maintain that with transparency and right motivation, China can provide better living conditions for the ethnic minority peoples of the most populated in our world.

Nanhua Village: Drum pole believe that the local governments are failing the Hmong people who pick through garbage heaps looking for food to eat and recyclables to sell. We resided in a mid-subtropical montane climatic zone in the Wuling Mountains of Xiangxi Autonomous Minority Prefecture, where it snows and freezes in the winter, however my ethnic Naox Niex, the Hmong New Year in Hlib Jiangl Village minority graduate students did not have heat or hot of Guizhou Province, China water in their dormitories, which lack basic life Amy Eisenberg works for the Center for World necessities. Some have children living in their dorms Indigenous Studies. Email: [email protected]. without these vital utilities. Photography by John Amato, RN; [email protected].

A FOCUS ON THE ISE DARRELL POSEY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: NO NEED FOR SHAME Contributed by Jenne de Beer, ISE Field Fellow 2009-2011

Negrito Cultural Revival & For the last couple of months and Meanwhile, a special featuring Empowerment Initiative still at time of writing, I have the Mam-eh festival in the NBTA (Philippines) been in full preparation for a newsletter3, on release, became As reported earlier on the ISE similar event for this coming an instant hit and subsequently website, a successful “Mam-eh”1 February with Ati and Ayta turned into a helpful tool for Aeta Cultural Revival Festival cum (former) hunter gatherers in the explaining the larger idea behind Development Forum took place Visayas, covering the islands of the initiative in first contacts with last April in Bgy. Sta. Juliana, Panay, Negros, Boracay and communities, officials and others. Tarlac. The forest foods2 themed Sibuyan. This Festival/ The reaction of an Ayta chieftain event was not only great fun, but Development Forum will be in the thickly forested mountains also a huge morale booster - for hosted by an Ati PO, the ‘Malay above Cadiz, Negros Occidental, those who participated, and also Highlander Association’ in Aklan, was typical. After carefully eventually resonating far beyond. Panay. studying the pictures and after

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A FOCUS ON THE ISE DARRELL POSEY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: NO NEED FOR SHAME (CONTINUED) Contributed by Jenne de Beer, ISE Field Fellow 2009-2011

captions were explained, he They also appear among the most gathering of Apis dorsata honey exclaimed “See, there is no need knowledgeable, not only related collectors from several countries for us to be ashamed!”. to childbirth and health issues, in South and Southeast Asia, is but also in other fields. set to provide a culturally And finally, much encouraged by appropriate platform for the NCIP4 Commissioner Conchina sharing of expertise and Calzado, the first Agta Dumagat experiences among peers. ever appointed to the position, Only once before such a steps are already being taken gathering had taken place, four (including fund raising) in years ago in Andhra Pradesh, preparation of a large scale India, and indeed there was much national event assembling all the to share as many (mostly countries’ Negrito groups, which positive) developments have A happy side event will be the is tentatively scheduled for taken place since in the steadily first ever (!) exhibition on the National IP Month (October, expanding MD network. and ways of life of the 2012). Visayan Negritos, which will open During a related symposium on This event is scheduled to immediately after the Aklan “Forest Honey, Health and coincide with celebrations to festival in the Negros History Nutrition”, in the botanical commemorate “15 years IPRA”. garden of Bogor and with top Museum in Bacolod. And the top experts involved, the superior organic restaurant in the same 1 health benefits of A. dorsata and city is ‘in’ to organize a ‘Wild Sharing in the Aeta local dialect. Trigona spp. honey, pollen and Food’ event at about the same 2More on the food aspect in the Workshop Report on page 19 of this propolis were extensively time. 2 Newsletter, in: ‘On forest foods, a discussed . (This, after the chef tasted some festival and community Collybia albuminosa, delicious empowerment’, reproduced from mushrooms growing exclusively the CFA Newsletter No. 54, on termite mounds and which I September 2011. brought fresh from the Cadiz 3Newsletter of the NTFP Task Force mountains.) (Philippines) Issue 20, August 2011. 4 Further scheduled for 2012 is a Philippines National Commission for series of exchange visits and one of these exchanges will specifically involve traditional No Honey, No Money! All of the above, already midwives. (Indonesia) accomplished or just set in During activities and A different type of event, though motion, are direct outcomes of consultations over the last two also concerning a beautiful forest the privilege I have had – thanks years, I could not fail to notice food, took place last September to the ISE Darrell Posey that among Negrito leaders, a in Ujung Kulon National Park, Fellowship – to, firstly, spend vastly disproportional number is Indonesia. ample time with the Negrito made up of traditional midwifes 1 hunter gatherers of the The Madhu Duniya (MD), a large or hilots. Philippines. www.ethnobiology.net Page 8 ISE Newsletter

A FOCUS ON THE ISE DARRELL POSEY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: NO NEED FOR SHAME (CONTINUED) Contributed by Jenne de Beer, ISE Field Fellow 2009-2011

Secondly, and likewise, the The poster, prepared for the Madhu fellowship has enabled me to Duniya and which visualizes recent contribute to building a larger and developments as well as some of the themes that took central stage at the more assertive community-based event. forest honey network in Asia. In recognition of the latter contribution, the participants in the Ujung Kulon meeting (again!) awarded this ISE Darrell Posey Field Fellow with a special “Dorsata Queen Bee” Award. 1 Finally, I am most grateful to the Honey World in (originally) many who volunteered to assist Sanskrit/Farsi. 2 me whenever they could in these See further “Healing with Honey” ventures! at: www.ntfp.org

“VIDEO EN LAS COMUNIDADES” (ECUADORIAN AMAZONIA) Contributed by Didier Lacaze, CODEAMA ~ ISE Small Grant Recipient 2009-2011

The use of video among they can be cultivated or indigenous people in Amazonia is harvested and turned into herbal well documented (Turner, 1991) remedies to treat the most and has proven an appropriate common ailments and illnesses in and useful tool to support inter- the village, among other communal and cultural possibilities. Video is also useful communication. to help local people become Learning to use a camera and edit more aware of the social and short films about the history, ecological determinants of the culture and life of their people health situation in their territory, creates possibilities for a renewed and empower them to make encounter between the young decisions on in the face of those and the elders, among others. new challenges. The adoption of this aspect of Examples of films made and in modern technology bears a novel process: meaning in the mind of the new 1) “Gathering of Indigenous allows making information on generations to reevaluate their Health workers”, featuring group healthcare more accessible to cultural legacy. discussions around intercultural oral cultures and communities Our primary goal is to use video in healthcare and practical providing easy identification of demonstrations of herbal support of the revitalization of medicinal plant species and ancestral medicine in Ecuadorian remedies during a training practical information on how Amazonia. Audiovisual material workshop in a Shiwiar village.

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A FOCUS ON THE ISE DARRELL POSEY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: “VIDEO EN LAS COMUNIDADES” (CONTINUED) Contributed by Didier Lacaze, CODEAMA ~ ISE Small Grant Recipient 2009-2011

2) “Plants for Health: herbal healthcare of the Health Ministry remedies for diarrheal diseases, in Ecuador. respiratory infections and The Small Grant we received intestinal parasites”. The film is from the ISE gave us the shows how the plants may be opportunity to introduce video cultivated, harvested and making among a group of prepared to treat some of the Amazonian Kichwa people, in the most common health problems in Pastaza province, in Ecuador. It the village. supported the purchase of video equipment, the training of a young Canelos-Kichwa leader in the use of video camera and their home and settled in the editing techniques, and the state of Madre de Dios. Last May, distribution of edited videos to the film was taken to the village local villages and institutions. of Puerto Arturo, one of the two Luis Fernando Canelos (23), from settlements displaced Kichwa the village of Canelos (Pastaza), now live in Peru, an hour produced a short film on the upstream from the jungle town of history and life of his people: Puerto Maldonado, on the Madre “Canelos: Historia y Vida”. The de Dios River. The images of the film was made for the video had a profound emotional 3) “Cultivation and conservation descendants of a group of and cultural impact on the of medicinal plants and herbal Canelos-Kichwa who were taken Canelos-Kichwa of Puerto Arturo. medicine making in rural and away by the Spanish rubber We are grateful to the ISE for its indigenous areas”, provides baron Máximo Rodriguez to generous support in facilitating information on different extract rubber in the this activation process of cultural techniques for sustainable southeastern jungles of Peru in revival and social empowerment harvesting and agro-ecological the early 1900s. through video in Ecuadorian cultivation of medicinal plants. These people never returned to Amazonia. 4) “Ayahuasca – Source of Indigenous Wisdom”, a documentary meant to better inform professional health agents working in indigenous areas on one of the central pillars of

ancestral medicine in Ecuadorian Amazonia. The films are distributed to local indigenous communities and organizations and through the Luis Fernando Canelos filming panoramic view over the Bobonaza Valley in Departments of Intercultural the province of Pastaza (Ecuador), where his village of Canelos lies. www.ethnobiology.net Page 10 ISE Newsletter

A FOCUS ON THE ISE DARRELL POSEY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: THE DARRELL POSEY ARCHIVE, PITT RIVERS MUSEUM, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD Contributed by ISE members Elaine Elisabetsky and Kristina Plenderleith

Darrell Posey was an Western academic study still many years coordinating the anthropologist and ethnobiologist tended to research each aspect Kayapó project, and who lived with the Kayapó Indians of indigenous life separately. ethnobiologists in Brazil will then of Brazil in the 1970s and 1980s. However, for the Kayapó their be able to use the collection for It was a time of rapid change in culture and lifestyle was an teaching about the life of the Jê community and his interlocking whole. indigenous groups in schools and research material recording This loose collaboration of in higher education. Kayapó life at that time vividly academics was referred to as the Progress so far: records these changes. Darrell Kayapó Project, but their work In July 2005 Kristina Plenderleith worked closely in the village with has never fully been written up made contact with the Head of his shaman mentors, in particular and published as a collective the Pitt Rivers Museum and, with recording their knowledge of body of research, and yet it support from the ISE, Elaine plants and planting methods, presents to the world a unique Elisabetsky was able to join knowledge which is irreplaceable. model for multidisciplinary Kristina Plenderleith in Oxford in His collection of approximately projects in ethnobiology. order to make a preliminary 2,500 slides, 75 field notebooks Since the collection was donated examination of the Archive. The and journals, and 30 videos, was to the Pitt Rivers Museum the following was accomplished: given to the Pitt Rivers Museum, slides have been catalogued and  2500 slides were looked at University of Oxford, by Darrell roughly identified. Further funds and described where possible Posey’s family after his death in are now needed in order to and when information was 2001. complete the project. relevant to the Collection In Gorotire he had worked with an The next step is to seek the (these had been classified at interdisciplinary international collaboration of other members some stage but the team of academic researchers of the Kayapó Project to enrich information was lost); examining all aspects of Kayapó and certify the accuracy of the  The notebooks were looked life at a time when Amazonian information associated with each at and marked with general groups such as the Kayapó had image, and to bring together the comments, making barely been influenced by different strands of research. This references whenever possible Western culture, and when will then make the collection a to the slides; model for ethnobiology  Field note book entries and worldwide, of interest to slides were cross referenced anthropologists, ethnobiologists, to Darrell Posey’s published and students of minority papers where possible; languages and Brazilian studies.  Boxes not yet in the Pitt Information supplied by Darrell's Rivers collection were collaborators will increase its examined, screened for utility. With increased funding relevant material and labeled Pitt Rivers Museum will be able A break in a field work at Gorotire. for further work. This In the photo: Darrell, Beptopoop (a to supply digital copies to Brazil, material was then donated to shaman and key informat to the probably through the Goeldi the Museum; Kayapó project), and Elaine. Museum where Posey spent

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A FOCUS ON THE ISE DARRELL POSEY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: THE DARRELL POSEY ARCHIVE, PITT RIVERS MUSEUM (CONTINUED) Contributed by ISE members Elaine Elisabetsky and Kristina Plenderleith

Liaison with the Museum was strengthened and a Gély, Warwick Kerr, Susannah Hecht, Gerhard project was put together for further fundraising Gottsberger, Carlos Rosario) in order to enrich purposes. information on the slides as well as having Progress then halted, partly because of the closure assistance with chronology and dating of slides; of the Pitt Rivers Museum offices during major  The slides need to be scanned to Museum building works, and partly because of a lack of quality for the benefit of future research; specific funding for the project.  The notebooks need to be scanned and In October 2009, again with support from the ISE, transcribed with Portuguese and Kayapó Sandra Machado, who was the Kayapó Project language entries in the notebooks translated, research assistant, spent a couple of weeks in Porto and a dictionary of Kayapó words compiled; Alegre reviewing the information which had been  Cross references need to be made between the added in Oxford by Elaine Elisabetsky. Sandra had slides and field notebooks and published lived for a couple of years in Gorotire village as a papers, as well as to book references on research assistant to the Kayapó project, and was Kayapó (Jê) material culture, and to precise able to add valuable information. festivals and ceremonies depicted on slides; The file describing the slides grew from 912 kb to  Cross reference needs to be made between the 1.33Mb. This part of the work was only possible Oxford collection and the Kayapó collection because the Pitt Rivers Museum made available a held in the Carnegie Museum (Pittsburgh), preliminary scan of the 2500 slides for Sandra  Links need to be added to the slide collection Machado to inspect. to make coherent chronological and event Now a further series of activities are planned: sequences, and to topics (as had been in the  Information on the slides needs to be completed “original” key classification of the slides by showing by them to Kayapó individuals in thought to be made under Darrell Posey's Pará; supervision)  Contact needs to be made with former members  Establish a base for Darrell Posey’s publications of the Kayapó project (Anthony Anderson, J.M.F. in one place with links to the photo collection. Camargo, William Overall, Kent Redford, Anne Darrell's copies of his publications are now in www.ethnobiology.net Page 12 ISE Newsletter

A FOCUS ON THE ISE DARRELL POSEY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: THE DARRELL POSEY ARCHIVE, PITT RIVERS MUSEUM (CONTINUED) Contributed by ISE members Elaine Elisabetsky and Kristina Plenderleith

the Pitt Rivers Museum and can therefore be ethnobiology and related disciplines; accessed with the slide collection and  Generation of educational material at various notebooks. levels of education (high school, undergraduate, Potential outcomes of the collection include graduate, post-graduate);  The material collected under the Kayapó  Creation of a relational database of the Kayapó project is perhaps the best known project; ethnobiology multidisciplinary project, some would say the model project in the discipline,  Generation of material for use in Kayapó schools and as such should be made accessible to all and other Amerindian schools in Brazil. students and researchers in the field of

ASAPP AFTER THE ISE DARRELL POSEY SMALL GRANT (2007-2011) Contributed by Ileana Valenzuela, member of Grupo Solidario, ISE Small Grant Recipient 2005-07

Lee este artículo en español the United States. El Grupo solidario de acción y propuesta de Petén At the end of two years (2003-2004) participants (GSAPP) reached three main conclusions: The ASAPP is a nonprofit association formed by a 1. We cannot wait for a solution coming from small number of people, mostly community above (government or NGO). We ourselves, leaders (men, women, old, young, indigenous, non each one in his or her place and with our own -indigenous, believers and non-believers), who limitations and capacities, must find and build formed El GSAPP in 2002. Its purpose was to: these alternatives; A) Analyze and reflect on how they could face the 2. We cannot cope with the system or the PPP with threats of Plan Puebla Panama (PPP), which since their same logic, so it is necessary to begin to 2001 has been implemented from southern imagine, define and implement an alternative Mexico to Panama. The goals of this Project are to socio-economic system (production, exchange build the necessary infrastructure in the region to and consumption) that drives global social attract foreign investment and facilitate selling the change; country’s natural resources and cheap labor. This 3. In the process of building such a system it is has serious impacts on the Maya Biosphere necessary to begin to outline an alternative rural Reserve (RBM), its biodiversity, and on the life of development strategy that shows the main local communities; and avenues and concrete steps needed to solve B) Seek, with the broad participation of community social and environmental problems of the Peten. leaders, concrete alternatives to the PPP. This La Asociación Solidaria de Acción y Propuesta de involved starting a process of information analysis, Petén (ASAPP) reflection and debate. For this, five workshops were conducted, each one in a different The ISE Darrell Posey Small Grant gave us their community, and a final forum was held in Santa support from 2005 to 2007. With the help from the Elena. The workshops and forum were financially ISE the GSAPP was legalized in March 2006 and supported by OXFAM GB and Green Grant Fund of became ASAPP so that we could proceed with the process undertaken by the GSAPP. We sought to

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A FOCUS ON THE ISE DARRELL POSEY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: ASAPP AFTER THE ISE DARRELL POSEY SMALL GRANT (CONTINUED) Contributed by Ileana Valenzuela, member of Grupo Solidario, ISE Small Grant Recipient 2005-07

contribute toward building an while on the one hand our “fair”, then small market alternative rural development structure allowed members to (mercadito) and finally Space of strategy based on solidarity, make their own decisions, Ecological and Solidarity complementarity, reciprocity and adapting their activities to the Exchange (EISE in Spanish). direct and participatory specific circumstances, on the As we had no money the democracy, using appropriate and other hand we were limited in mercadito solidario functioned sustainable technologies that our actions because lack of based on the enthusiasm and address in a global way the funding. solidarity of the organic serious problems faced by these ASAPP after the Darrell Posey producers, who worked together communities, their lands and Small grant from mid-2008 until late 2010, their forests. We were looking to The last of the funds from the ISE the support of some strengthen the communities’ organizations, and the voluntary organization, autonomy and self- Small Grant was dedicated to making a small study on the work of ASAPP members. RISEP management so that they could met once a month to assess the become more self-sufficient, possibilities of implementing a solidarity ecological market in the past month’s flea market, plan implement productive projects the next and discussing different with sustainable technologies, north of Petén. We invited other organizations that were willing to aspects of the social economy better preserve the RBM and its that we were trying to build. We biodiversity, foster community participate in the implementation of this market and, with nine of tried to create a participatory tourism and implement a fair them who responded positively, democracy, as wide as possible, trade market in the context of an the ASAPP formed the Ecological taking decisions by consensus in alternative development strategy. and Solidarity Exchange Network which everybody could take part. Thanks to the ISE Darrel Posey of Petén (RISEP) and started a We did not have a leader that Small Grant, we were able to flea market held on the last commanded, but instead a continue this process. We Friday and Saturday of each coordinating committee made up provided some introductory month. Initially it was called a of five organizations responsible training on to youth groups (men and women) in the communities and continued to hold meetings for analysis, reflection and debate. These aroused considerable interest among young people who wanted to follow up and implement their own projects; however, they expected regular technical support which we could not provide due to lack of financial means. This was mainly because the ASAPP does not fit the traditional framework of Workshop reflection, analysis, discussion; Taller reflexión, analisis, debate. "development cooperation". So (San José, 2003) www.ethnobiology.net Page 14 ISE Newsletter

A FOCUS ON THE ISE DARRELL POSEY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: ASAPP AFTER THE ISE DARRELL POSEY SMALL GRANT (CONTINUED) Contributed by Ileana Valenzuela, member of Grupo Solidario, ISE Small Grant Recipient 2005-07 for implementing the decisions who were involved and trying to continues to try to rescue all taken by consensus. marginalize the ASAPP. This led forms of culture, native seeds, That was, on a very nascent and to a division between the plants and Itza' Maya know-how. small scale, a nonlinear process in members of the RISEP and our Since 2003 several members of which sustainable agricultural association. Some producers, the community Itza’ have been production, solidarity exchange however, have continued part of the ASAPP but although and responsible consumption organizing and implementing we knew the importance of their were complemented and small markets in the different knowledge and ancestral forms of interacted in a global way, parishes of Petén and even have life, we had not sufficiently creating synergies and a network that they continue to considered their significance in empowering producers both call RISEP. This gave us great the construction of an alternative technically and politically to build pleasure for it shows that the paradigm. The decision to focus their own future. It was a great work that was done was not lost. our activities on them and form a experience that showed us that But the flea markets no longer savings and loan case, with although there is no money, the farmers - when given the chance - have a great capacity for solidarity and working together, and they can be creative and constructive. The experience also showed that the holistic approach and participatory democracy, driven by the ASAPP, were welcomed by a large number of producers, who are often subordinated to processes they have not built, and marginalized so that they cannot influence decision making. The process, however, was not easy and was followed by an impasse, creating new challenges Individual producers selling at the flea market; Productores individuales for achieving our mid- and long- vendiendo en el mercadito. (2008) term goals. Some people have the same spirit of solidarity, belonging to organizations that support from the Swiss democracy and ecological Foundation Paul Karl Feyerabend were supporting us tried to take production that ASAPP had tried over the process to benefit their (FPKF) helped us realize that only to instill. Given this situation the by recovering values, plants, own individual organization, so as Association left the RISEP and to present the mercadito solidario technologies and ancestral since 2010 has limited its knowledge of indigenous peoples to agencies as their own without activities to the municipalities of taking into account all the actors will it be possible for humanity to San Andrés and San José where it overcome the serious socio-

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A FOCUS ON THE ISE DARRELL POSEY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: ASAPP AFTER THE ISE DARRELL POSEY SMALL GRANT (CONTINUED) Contributed by Ileana Valenzuela, member of Grupo Solidario, ISE Small Grant Recipient 2005-07

economic, energetic, climatic and have no funds. We told him that the treasury, formed this year, environmental crisis in which we the national and local will be officially confirmed and live. So, we are making every governments are part of a power next year we hope to start effort for ensure Itza’s culture is structure, a net of economic and providing small loans to our not lost completely: we are political power, that will not community members, always in supporting the formation of a change just because a new the overall context of building a group of men without land, who person arrives, and that the state solidarity economy. will be trained in the ways of Itza machinery destroys and erases Thanks to the ISE Darrell Posey farming; we are supporting, with those who do not enter the ring Small Grant and all those who all our limitations, AFEPLAMED, and are not subordinate to its have contributed to and made the women’s association for the logic, but we could not convince this process possible. rescue of medicinal plants of San him. He did not listen to our Jose, and to create an EISE for advice. He entered the election, selling their products at San doing a great job in all villages of El Grupo solidario de acción y Andrés. the municipality of San Jose, but propuesta de Petén The ASAPP has always refused to in the end, his group lost the La ASAPP es una asociación no participate in formal democracy election. Apparently the opposite lucrativa conformada por un because we believe that if you do party took people from other pequeño número de personas, not have a sufficient balance of municipalities to vote in San Jose principalmente líderes power there are always the and won fraudulently. This comunitarios (Hombres, mujeres, powerful who will make decisions confirms our belief that the viejos, jóvenes, indígenas y no to protect their interests. We are correct direction is to create a indígenas, creyentes y no convinced that what is urgent new relationship of forces and creyentes), quienes en el 2002 now for creating an impact is to not to work within the formaron el GSAPP. framework of bourgeois change the balance of power to Sus objetivos eran: strengthen community democracy, at a time when the A) Reflexionar y analizar la forma organization and strategies. new force is not yet established. This is especially urgent, de enfrentar las amenazas del Nonetheless, in the elections for considering how dangerous it is Plan Puebla Panamá (PPP), que president, deputies and mayors of when Petén is in state of desde el 2001 se implementó Guatemala, held from September emergency and there is a great desde el sur de México hasta -November 2011, a young pressure from narcotics Panamá, con el fin de construir en member of the ASAPP ran for vice trafficking on all political parties la región mesoamericana la president of the council of a right- and in the government. I could infraestructura necesaria para wing party in San José. His not reach him to find out in detail atraer la inversión extranjera y argument was that if the right what occurred in the election, vender los recursos naturales y uses the left parties to carry out but I hope this experience will mano de obra baratos del país. Lo their policies why could we not provide lessons for the future. que impactaría negativamente use the right parties to realize our tanto a la Reserva de Biosfera In late November, our General goals and, above all, channel the Maya (RBM) y su biodiversidad Assembly will take place and a municipality’s money to the como en la vida de los new president of the association community projects that are not comunitarios; usually taken into account and will be elected. The committee of www.ethnobiology.net Page 16 ISE Newsletter

A FOCUS ON THE ISE DARRELL POSEY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: LA ASAPP DESPUÉS DEL DARREL POSEY SMALL GRANT (2007-2011) Contributed by Ileana Valenzuela, member of Grupo Solidario, ISE Small Grant Recipient 2005-07

B) Empezar un proceso de para resolver los problemas comenzar a implementar sus información, reflexión, análisis y socio-ambientales del Petén. propios proyectos, lo que no debate, con la amplia La Asociación Solidaria de Acción pudimos satisfacer, pues ellos participación de los líderes y Propuesta de Petén (ASAPP) esperaban un apoyo técnico comunitarios, para buscar e regular que no podíamos implementar alternativas Con el apoyo del Darrell Posey proporcionarles por falta de concretas al PPP. Para ello, se Small Grant que nos dio su apoyo medios financieros. Esto llevaron a cabo cinco talleres en del 2005 al 2007, El GSAPP se principalmente porque la ASAPP diferentes comunidades y un legalizó en marzo del 2006 y se no entra en el marco tradicional de convirtió en La ASAPP. Se buscaba foro final en Santa Elena, la “cooperación para el desarrollo” contribuir a construir en las apoyados financieramente por lo que, por una parte nos permite comunidades de Petén un OXFAM GB y el Fondo Green tomar nuestras propias decisiones Grant de los Estados Unidos. desarrollo rural alternativo, en función de cada circunstancia basado en la solidaridad, la Después de dos años (2003- particular y ser muy complementariedad, la independientes, pero, por otra 2004) GSAPP llegó a tres reciprocidad y la democracia conclusiones principales: parte nos impide realizar muchas directa y participativa, utilizando acciones por falta de dinero. 1. No podemos esperar a que la tecnologías apropiadas y solución nos venga de arriba sostenibles. Se bucaba también: La ASAPP después del Darrell (del Estado o de las ONG) fortalecer la organización, la Posey Small Grant sino que nosotros mismos, autonomía y la autogestión de las El último dinero del Darrell Posey cada uno en el lugar en que comunidades para que fueran lo dedicamos, entonces, a finales se encuentra, somos los que autosuficientes; implementaran del 2007 a un pequeño estudio tenemos que buscar y proyectos productivos con sobre la implementación de un construir alternativas; tecnologías que no destruyan ni la mercado solidario y ecológico con 2. No se puede afrontar al RBM ni su biodiversidad; otras organizaciones de sistema ni al PPP con su impulsaran el turismo comunitario productores agrícolas ecológicos a misma lógica, por lo que es e implantaran un mercado las que invitamos a participar. necesario comenzar a solidario en el marco de una Algunas respondieron en forma imaginar, definir e estrategia de desarrollo positiva y con ellas ASAPP implementar un sistema alternativo. conformó la Red de Intercambio socio-económico alternativo Gracias al Darrell Posey Small Solidario y Ecológico de Petén que impulse un cambio social Grant, for and (RISEP) e implementó un global; Traditional Resource Rights / mercadito solidario y ecológico en Santa Elena todos los ultimos 3. En el proceso de Oxford Fellowship, se realizaron talleres introductorios a la viernes y sabados de cada mes, construcción de dicho desde mediados del 2008 hasta sistema es necesario agroecología con grupos de finales del 2010. Para la ASAPP, el comenzar a delinear una jóvenes (hombres y mujeres) en algunas comunidades y se mercadito solidario, que al estrategia de desarrollo rural principio los comunitarios alternativo que muestre los prosiguió con las reuniones de ́ llamaron feria y por último Espacio lineamientos principales y los análisis, reflexión y debate. Esto ́ de Intercambio Solidario y pasos concreto necesarios suscitó un gran interés entre los jó́venes quienes querían Ecológico (EISE), entraba en el

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A FOCUS ON THE ISE DARRELL POSEY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: LA ASAPP DESPUÉS DEL DARREL POSEY SMALL GRANT (2007-2011) Contributed by Ileana Valenzuela, member of Grupo Solidario, ISE Small Grant Recipient 2005-07

marco del proceso de Economía participado y tratando de San José donde buscamos Solidaria global que la asociación marginar a la ASAPP, propiciando rescatar las formas de cultivo, estába impulsando. Es decir, de la división entre los miembros de semillas y conocimientos Maya un proceso no linear en el que la la RISEP y la asociación. Algunos Itza’. producción agrícola sostenible, el Desde el 2003 varios miembros intercambio solidario y ecológico de la comunidad Itza’ han y el consumo responsable se vean formado parte de la ASAPP. en forma global, se Aunque sabiamos la importancia complementen, creen sinergias y de sus conocimientos y formas de contribuyan a que la comunidad vida ancestrales no los habiamos se organice, se capacite y se considerado como algo esencial empodere, tanto técnica como en el paradigma socio-económico políticamente, a fin de construir alternativo que estamos su propio futuro. contribuyendo a construir. La Fue una gran experiencia que decision de concentrar nuestras mostró que, aunque no haya actividades y de formar una caja dinero, los campesinos cuando se de ahorro y crédito comunitaria y les da la oportunidad, tienen una solidaria con ellos, apoyados por gran capacidad de ser solidarios y la fundación suiza Paul Karl trabajar juntos, de ser creativos y Doña Irma Chayax presidenta Feyerabend (FPKF), nos hizo constructivos. También mostró AFEPLAMED vendiendo en el comprender que solamente que el enfoque holístico y la mercadito; Doña Irma Chayax rescatando los valores, democracia participativa president selling in the flea market tecnologías y conocimientos impulsados por la ASAPP eran AFEPLAMED. (2009) ancestrales de las poblaciones bien recibidos por los productores productores, sin embargo, indígenas será posible que la que están a menudo siguieron organizándose e humanidad logre superar las subordinados a procesos que implementando mercaditos en graves crisis, socio-económica, ellos no han construido y diferentes parroquias de Petén e energetica, climática y ambiental marginados de la toma de incluso manitienen una red a la que estamos viviendo. Por lo que, decisiones. El proceso, sin que continúan llamando RISEP, lo junto con la implementación de la embargo no fue facil y los avances que nos da un gran gusto pues caja de ahorro y credito del inicio fueron seguidos por un muestra que el trabajo que se comunitaria y solidaria la ASAPP impasse, abriendo nuevos retos a hizo no fue perdido, aunque, los está haciendo todos sus esfuerzos mediano y largo plazo. Algunas mercaditos ya no se hacen con el por que la cultura Itza’ no se personas pertenecientes a las mismo espíritu solidario, pierda: Estamos apoyando la organizaciones que nos estaban democrático y ecológico que la formación de un grupo de apoyando trataron de apropiarse ASAPP había tratado de hombres, sin tierra, para que se del proceso en beneficio de su infundirles. Ante esta situación capacite en agricultura Itzá, propia organización, de manera a salimos de La RISEP a finales del apoyamos, con todas nuestras presentarlo a las agencias como 2009 y desde entonces hemos limitaciones, a AFEPLAMED, la suyo, sin tomar en cuenta a todos limitado nuestras actividades a Asociación femenina para el los actores que habían los municipios de San Andrés y rescate de plantas medicinales de www.ethnobiology.net Page 18 ISE Newsletter

A FOCUS ON THE ISE DARRELL POSEY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: LA ASAPP DESPUÉS DEL DARREL POSEY SMALL GRANT (2007-2011) Contributed by Ileana Valenzuela, member of Grupo Solidario, ISE Small Grant Recipient 2005-07

San José y en noviembre de poder que no va a cambiar sólo en Estado de Emergenciá y los abriremos un punto de venta, un porque llega una persona nueva narcotraficantes tienen una gran EISE, para la venta de sus sino que es un entretejido de fuerza (mucho dinero) en todos los productos en San Andrés. poderes económicos y políticos, partidos y en el gobierno. No he de la que la persona que no se podido hablar con él para ver que En lo que concierne la incidencia somete es excluída. Pero, él no fue lo que sucedió realmente pero política, La ASAPP ha siempre escucho nuestros consejos. Es el esperamos que está experiencia le rechazado participar en las derecho de la juventud el de haya dejado muchas enseñanzas y diferentes forma de democracia cometer sus propios errores y le haya permitido contactar e formal (mesas de dialogo, nosotros los viejos no podemos identificar a jóvenes entuciasta elecciones, etc.) pues pensamos más que transmitirles nuestras que quieran particiapar al trabajo que si no se tiene una relación experiencias y aprendizajes. En de la ASAPP, espero que pronto de fuerzas suficiente son siempre consecuencia, él se presentó a las esté de nuevo trabajando con los poderosos los que van a elecciones después de un gran nosotros pues es una persona muy tomar las decisiones para trabajo con la población de todas valiosa para la asociación. defender sus intereses. Estamos las aldeas de la municipalidad de convencido de que, lo que urge A finales de noviembre se realizará San José pero su grupo perdió las en este momento es cambiar la nuestra Asamblea General y se elecciones. Aparentemente el relación de fuerzas fortaleciendo elegira un nuevo presidente(a) de partido contrario llevó gente de la organización y la conciencia la asociación, se confirmará otras municipalidades a votar a comunitarias. Sin embargo, en oficialmente al comité de la caja de San José y gano fraudulosamente, las elecciones para presidente de ahorro y crédito, que se formó lo que confirma nuestra Guatemala, diputados y alcaldes este año, y esperamos el 2012 convicción de que la incidencia municipales que acaban de tener comenzar a dar créditos a los política consiste en crear una lugar en octubre-noviembre del comunitarios, siempre en el marco nueva relación de fuerzas y no en 2011, un joven miembro de la global de construcción de una trabajar en el marco de la ASAPP se presentó como economía solidaria. Gracias al democracia burguesa, cuando esa candidato a vicepresidente del Darrel Posey Small Grant y a todos nueva fuerza aún no está consejo municipal de un partido aquellos que han hecho posible constituida. Sobre todo si de derecha en San José. Su este proceso. consideramos lo peligroso que es, argumento era que si la derecha en un momento en que Petén está utiliza a los partidos de izquierda para que realicen sus políticas nosotros deberiamos utilizar a la derecha para realizar nuestros objetivos y sobre todo, canalizar el dinero de la municipalidad a los proyectos comunitarios que Don Zacarias en de costumbre no se toman en su parcela; Don Zacarias on their cuenta y no tienen fondos. plot. (2009) Le explicamos que los gobiernos tanto nacionales como locales forman parte de una estructura

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CONFERENCE AND WORKSHOP REPORTS: ON FOREST FOODS, A FESTIVAL AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT Written by Jenne de Beer, reproduced with permission from the CFA Newsletter1

Introduction However, where in the past the To many indigenous communities forest could be considered a good in Asia, traditional activities such provider, in many locations as the gathering of forest foods, destructive developments have led hunting and fishing, are vital to a collapse of the food’s resource adjuncts to farming and together, base. In addition, mainstream together forming an integrated society often looks down on the system of resource utilization, consumption of wild gathered catering to elementary food, perceiving the practice as a subsistence needs. Forest foods sign of backwardness. can be a key emergency food On the other hand, ‘modern’ buffer during times of famine or processed and comparatively seasonal scarcity. But even in less nutrient poor items have gradually challenging times, these foods, in entered tribal areas and have the form of side dishes and become significant staples of day- snacks, are able to provide to-day diets. Meanwhile, the role On site preparation of wild banana valuable nutritional supplements of wild gathered foods is juice, a most refreshing drink. to cultivated staples. commonly underreported, if not In fact, the nutritional value of outright ignored by development indigenous peoples with a hunter forest food is in no way inferior organizations and government gatherer background, collectively to that of farm crop. On the agencies alike. This referred to as ‘Negritos’ represent contrary, recent research findings notwithstanding the fact, that the country’s most ancient increasingly point to the superior currently “food security” (in the civilization. health benefits of wild gathered context of “poverty alleviation”) is Few in numbers overall, small foods. Another undeniable forte a regularly featured item on the pockets are scattered over much of wild gathered food is the much international development of the country. Their distinctive greater variation in taste. agenda. cultures and forest related way of Furthermore, forest foods are Finally, in and outside of forestry life is little appreciated in usually free – an important circles, recognition of the mainstream society and they have consideration for families with importance of non-timber forest long since been marginalized, limited cash for purchases products has increased pushed aside and taken considerably over the last two advantage off– even as decades or so, though primarily in compared to other indigenous terms of the income generating peoples. potential for forest dependent These ethnic groups, among communities. But also in this which number the Aeta of Eastern context, attention for subsistence Luzon, have an exceptionally aspects – including those that are strong relationship with the forest nutrition related– is still lagging and many cultural traits reflect far behind. this relationship. Furthermore, Time for rest and discussion after CASE: The Aeta of the Philippines their societies are highly a successful foraging trip in the egalitarian and decision making is vicinity of Mount Pinatubo. In the Philippines, the different www.ethnobiology.net Page 20 ISE Newsletter

CONFERENCE AND WORKSHOP REPORTS: ON FOREST FOODS, A FESTIVAL AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT (CONTINUED) Written by Jenne de Beer, reproduced with permission from the CFA Newsletter1 traditionally inclusive. members of the local NGO KAKAI the lightening of a cooking fire– Even today foods from the forest and the author participated in both women and men using their are much appreciated by the these discussions. It became respective traditional implements Aeta. Items include: leaf and root apparent that the Aeta involved – and with offerings to ‘Anito’, vegetables (the former including were very excited to share their environment spirits. various species of ferns, the knowledge about forest foods and Apart from food preparation and latter e.g. Dioscorea esculenta it was soon decided to let the actual tasting, recipes, rituals and and several other Dioscorea), festival revolve around the information with respect to the fruits and blossoms (both e.g. subject. From there it was a short ingredients were shared. In derived from wild banana, Musa walk, and on April 28th, 2010, the addition, survival skills, such as sp.), palm heart (‘uwud’ a generic first ever ‘Aeta Forest Foods trap making, archery and term referring to a range of Festival’ took place. techniques of sustainable yam palms), as well as mushrooms, Over four hundred participants digging, were demonstrated and bush meat (wild boar in joined in the event, the vast many of the participants engaged particular), fish, crabs and other majority Aeta from Tarlac, with a in story telling dancing and singing, aquatic animals. contingent of Aeta and Agta from much of it related to the food Indeed, forest foods, though four other provinces. At the served. nowadays a minor component festival, to which participants had The festival was followed by a one- volume-wise, are a healthy and brought ample specialty food day ‘multi-sector development enjoyable part of the Aeta diet. items from the forests and forum’. The forum, with Aeta And, in their case, the relevant swiddens in their respective areas, leaders in charge and top echelon knowledge base is still largely a ‘gather, cook and taste’ session government officials involved, intact, while some of the skills of traditional foods took central aimed at providing a platform for involved in hunting or gathering stage. The session opened with sharing the communities’ also serve as pronounced identity aspirations and concerns. The markers. However, in light of open dialogue largely focused on persistent erosive cultural developments affecting the pressures and in order to security of the Aeta’s ancestral invigorate the food tradition, domains and the natural resources ‘affirmative’ counteraction is therein. It was noticeable that warranted. One action, along outside guests were able to gain these lines, took place earlier this new appreciation for a special year in the province of Tarlac and cultural heritage, which is in the framework of a larger inextricably linked to their forests. ‘Negrito cultural revival and Apart from food preparation and empowerment initiative’. actual tasting, recipes, rituals and During a series of informal ‘mam- information with respect to the eh’ (sharing) sessions taking ingredients were shared. In place around campfires or at addition, survival skills, such as forest picnics, an upcoming trap making, archery and cultural revival festival was Sharp shooting with bow and arrow: techniques of sustainable yam discussed. Aeta women and men, it is a key part of the Aeta way of life. digging, were demonstrated and

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CONFERENCE AND WORKSHOP REPORTS: ON FOREST FOODS, A FESTIVAL AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT (CONTINUED) Written by Jenne de Beer, reproduced with permission from the CFA Newsletter1

many of the participants engaged in story telling dancing and singing, much of it related to the food served. The festival was followed by a one-day ‘multi-sector development forum’. The forum, with Aeta leaders in charge and top echelon government officials involved, aimed at providing a platform for sharing the communities’ aspirations and concerns. The open dialogue largely focused on developments affecting the security of the Aeta’s ancestral domains and the natural resources therein. It was noticeable that outside guests were able to gain new Chanting the dururo, thanking all for coming to the festival from far away. appreciation for a special cultural heritage, which is inextricably linked to their forests. Conclusion In light of the enthusiastic response of participants during and after the event, it could be argued that, in combination with 1Article written by Jenne de Beer, the 2009-2011 ISE Darrell Posey the intensive preparatory Field Fellow and former Executive Director of the NTFP Exchange process, it did help invigorate the Programme for South & Southeast. Reproduced with permission Aeta’s food tradition and it visibly from the CFA Newsletter, No.54 September 2011 ISSN 1750-6417 fostered greater pride in related skills, knowledge and customs. (See www.youtube.com.) References It also appears, considering how BEER, J. H. de and McDERMOTT, M. J. 1996. The Economic Value of the activity resonated with Non-Timber Forest Products in Southeast Asia (2nd revised edition). officials, media and others, that a N.C. IUCN, Amsterdam. better understanding and more respect by outsiders for the rich DOUNIAS, E., SELZNER, A., KOIZUMI, M. and LEVANG, P. 2007. From cultural heritage of the Aeta (and sago to rice. From forest to town: the consequences of of which forest foods are an sedentarization for the nutritional ecology of Punan former hunter- integral part), was another gatherers of Borneo. In: Food &Nutrition Bulletin, Vol. 28, no 2 remarkable achievement. (supplement). The United University. www.ethnobiology.net Page 22 ISE Newsletter

CONFERENCE AND WORKSHOP REPORTS: 2ND ISE EASTERN-EUROPEAN ETHNOBIOLOGY WORKSHOP IN HUNGARY: “METHODOLOGIES AND METHODS IN ETHNOBIOLOGY” Contributed by ISE members Anna Varga and Zsolt Molnár

were diverse, and included In the evenings we had time to , ethnoecology get to know the culture of the (vegetation), ethnozoology, participants’ countries through , historical studies traditional music, food and drink, and use of traditional ecological and short ethno-movies. knowledge (TEK) in nature conservation. On the second day we discussed methodological questions from The 2nd Eastern-European theoretical and practical aspects. Ethnobiology Workshop was held We also had a role-playing at Királyrét in the heart of the exercise that allowed participants Börzsöny Mountains, Hungary, to experience being a native Additionally, we had 2 workshop between 13-16th October, 2011 informant or a researcher, trips: before the conference we (scientific committee: Andrea respectively, through visited the Hortobágy salt steppe Pieroni, Ingvar Svanberg, Łukasz “interviews” on edible oils. This (puszta), where we experienced Łuczaj, Renata Sõukand, and Zsolt exercise showed how diverse our the deep ethnobiological Molnár; local organizing interviewing practices are. In the knowledge of herdsmen and committe: Anna Varga and Zsolt afternoon we visited the Kacár enjoyed the migrating cranes, Molnár). Farm where we saw an example and after the conference we At the 1st EEE Workshop in Padise of ethnobiology education discovered some ethnobiology in (Estonia) in 2010 we decided to through a traditional farming Budapest, by visiting the develop a research network and experience. Hungarian Ethnographical Museum and a big food market to have workshops each year, and On the morning of the third day where we tasted different in Hungary in 2011. The 37 we had a brain-storming session mineral waters from a natural participants arrived from 11 on the use of historical data in spring in the middle of the countries: Bosnia-Hercegovina, ethnobiology, ethnobiology in capital. Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, education, and future prospects Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, on joint research. Finally, part of As organizers we can say it was a Russia, Sweden, and Turkey. The the group went on a canoe trip great pleasure to organize this goal of the 2nd Workshop was on the old and blue Danube. workshop in Hungary! not just to bring together ethnobiologists to share the latest and planned ethnobiological research in the region, but also to discuss questions regarding methodologies and methods. On the first day each participant introduced her or his research work. Topics of the presentations

www.ethnobiology.net Volume 3, Issue 2 Page 23

ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE ISE

Mary Stockdale joins the ISE Board Registration for the 2012 ISE Congress is open The ISE Board is pleased to announce The online registration for the 13th Congress of the International the appointment of Mary Stockdale Society of Ethnobiology to be held in Montpellier, 20-25 May [link to bio] as the ISE Co-Chair of the 2012, is now open. Please visit the page "Registration" of the ISE Darrell Posey Fellowship for Eth- congress website for further instructions about how to proceed. noecology and Traditional Resource The various categories of registration fees are as well document- Rights with current Chair, Sarah Laird. ed on this webpage. Please note that the online registration form Mary and Sarah are currently working is provided only in two languges: English and French. with the 2011 Selection Committee to Están abiertas las inscripciones al XIII Congreso de la Sociedad review the applications for the four pro- Internacional de Etnobiología, el cual tendrá lugar en Montpellier gram components (Field Fellowship, del 20 al 25 de mayo de 2012. Puede acceder a la página Small grants, PhD Fellowship, and Mas- "Inscripción" (traducción en curso) del sitio Internet del congreso ters Felllowships) that have been gener- para mayor información sobre las modalidades y los costos de ously funded by the Christensen Fund. inscripción. El formulario de inscripción está disponible en dos We expect to announce the recipients idiomas: inglés y francés. in early January 2012. l'inscription en ligne au13ème Congrès de la Société Internatio- nale d'Ethnobiologie, qui se tiendra à Montpellier du 20 au 25 Krystyna Swiderska joins the ISE Board mai 2012, est dorénavant ouverte. Prière de vous rendre sur la The ISE Board is pleased to announce page "Inscription" du site Internet du congrès pour plus d'infor- the appointment of Krystyna Swiderska mations sur les modalités à suivre. La grille tarifaire des droits [link to bio] as the ISE Co-Director of d'inscriptions est également disponible à cette même page web. the ISE Global Coalition for Biological Veuillez noter que le formulaire d'inscription en ligne n'est dis- and with current Di- rector, Alejandro Argumedo. Among other initiatives, Alejandro and OTHER NEWS Krystyna are coordinating a full day workshop to be held during the 2012 Ethnobiologists Bookshelf ISE Congress. The workshop will include Please see the Ethnobiologist’s Bookshelf on the ISE website for a variety of presentations on protocols new items in this section. used as tools to implement the UNDRIPs principles in different interna- tional agreements, relating to tradition- Upcoming Events & Announcements al knowledge (e.g., CBD, FAO, WTO, Please see the News page on the ISE website for upcoming WIPO, WHO), followed by an afternoon events and other announcements. of discussion around practical imple- mentation.

Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in the articles in the ISE Newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of the International Society of Ethnobiology. www.ethnobiology.net Volume 3, Issue 2 Page 24

ISE MEMBERSHIP DRIVE THE INTERNATIONAL We would like to remind you that the ISE membership drive is still taking place. Our goal is to expand our membership base while encouraging new and renewing members to actively engage in the ISE in SOCIETY OF ways that are mutually beneficial and the build capacity of the Society to achieve our goals. Beginning ETHNOBIOLOGY September 2008 and now extended into 2011, the ISE encourages membership fee waivers in ex- change for in-kind contributions to the Society. Possible in-kind contributions include (but are not limited to) language translation, computer design/graphics, photography, editing, writing, and distribu- tion of ISE materials (e.g., regional brochures, posters, Code of Ethics, etc.). We are very open to PO Box 303, other suggestions for in-kind contributions and ways to encourage our members to use their interests 14 School Street Bristol, VT 05443 and skills to be active in the Society. USA Current membership benefits include the ISE Newsletter, the option to receive email updates on relevant conference, career, and scholarship opportunities, networking opportunities with other Phone: 802-453-6996 Fax: 802-453-3420 members world-wide, and reduced registration fees at the Congresses. Additionally, the ISE will be E-mail: launching a member discussion forum in the Winter of 2011/2012, which will help our members make [email protected] connections and network within the ISE community and beyond. As we continue moving forward with these activities, the ISE welcomes your feedback, contributions and ideas on furthering our vision to promote understanding, dialogue and harmonious co-existence between humankind and the Bios for the benefit of future generations.

THE 2010-2012 ISE BOARD

David Stephenson, Subramanyam Sarah Laird, Interim President Ragupathy, Darrell Posey Asia Representative Fellowship Chair

Mary Stockdale, Jack Miller, Gisella Cruz Garcia, Darrell Posey Interim Vice Europe Fellowship Co- President Representative Chair

Robert Gosford, Hannes Leslie Main Oceania and Pacific Dempewolf, Johnson, Islands Representative Student Interim Secretary Representative

Rajindra Puri, Alejandro Argumedo, Nemer Narchi, Interim Treasurer Global Coalition Student Director Representative

Krystyna Swiderska, Josie Osborne, Zerihun Woldu, Global Coalition Co- 2010 Congress Africa Director Organizer Representative Sarah-Lan Mathez- Kelly Bannister, Edmond Dounias, Stiefel, Central/ Ethics Committee 2012 Congress South Americas & Chair Organizer Caribbean Representative

Alain Cuerrier, Gleb Raygorodetsky, Northern Americas Ethics Committee Co- Representative Chair www.ethnobiology.net