Volume 1, Issue 2 June 2009

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

ISE’S 1ST ASIAN 2 THE ISE’S FIRST ASIAN CONFERENCE OF ETHNOBIOLOGY CONFERENCE TAIWAN, 21-29 OCTOBER 2009 Profile: Dr. Yih-Ren 3 During the 11th International In order to demonstrate the Resource Management Profile: RECAP 4 Congress of Ethnobiology in unique and diverse cultural 3. Natural Disaster Zones UPDATES ON ISE 4 Peru, the idea of an Asian characteristics of the area, and and Environmental ACTIVITIES regional conference was therefore the topic of “Sacred Mastery posited. When Dr. Yih-Ren Places”, which bears great 4. Local Indigenous Scientific Re-Evisioning Activity 4 Lin, Director of the Research local representation, was Education Global Coalition and 5 Centre for Austronesian chosen as an entrance point Ethics Committee Peoples at Providence into this conference. In order 5. Indigenous Policies and University, was elected as the to reflect the commitment to Biological/Cultural Ethics Toolkit 6 Asian Representative for ISE, research ethics and explore Diversity Conservation 2009-2011 Darrell 7 he was encouraged to hold the academic and practical 6. Traditional Ecological Posey Fellowship the First Asian Conference of dialectical spirit in this Recipients Knowledge Ethnobiology (FACE; www.ise- interdisciplinary field, the topic 7. Indigenous Area Reports: 2006-2008 8 asia.org). of participatory research Research and Research Darrell Posey Small The aim of this conference is methodology was specifically Methodology added. CONFERENCE 10 to address topics that have 8. Religion and Indigenous been long-term priorities for The focus of the ISE FACE is REPORTS Sacred Spaces the ISE that also relate to the “The Position of Indigenous Snowchange 10 portrayal of Indigenous culture Peoples, Sacred Places and 9. Austronesian Endangered by bringing together scholars Participatory Methodology in Language and Culture Indigenous Peoples 11 Conservation. Climate Change and practitioners across Asia Conservation of Cultural and Summit who share an interest in the Biological Diversity”. To The conference is scheduled following topics: understanding further clarify the purpose of for October 21-29, 2009, with The Anchorage 12 the worldly organizational the conference, there will be the main activities being held Declaration methods of society, social nine subtopics of discussion: at three different locations: Shei-pa National Park and Interests of Ethno- 15 organizations, material 1. Indigenous Literature and biology students practice, and interest in Sacred Spaces surrounding Tayal villages, spiritual and world views. (continued on page 2) Planning meeting for 15 2. Participatory Natural the 12th ISE Congress FROM THE EDITORIAL TEAM Society of Ethno- 17 biology Conference In this issue you will read ethnobiology in the news and We invite your feedback, about the upcoming ISE First activities in international policy suggestions, and submissions. IN MEMORIAM: 17 Asian Conference of Ethno- fora, updates on ISE activities, With warm regards, DR. NINA ETKIN biology and host institution, and book reviews and Leslie Main Johnson, ANNOUNCEMENTS 18 updates on current ISE announcements. We plan to activities, short reports on include profiles of community ISE Secretary, GET INVOLVED 19 recent conferences, and news knowledge holders, academic Newsletter Editor and announcements. researchers, and policy UPCOMING 20 Natasha Duarte, ISE The ISE Newsletter will have experts as well as feature EVENTS Coordinator articles on research, different sub-disciplines of ISE MEMBERSHIP 22 community, and students, ethnobiology. DRIVE www.ethnobiology.net Page 2 ISE Newsletter

THE ISE’S FIRST ASIAN CONFERENCE OF ETHNOBIOLOGY TAIWAN, 21-29 OCTOBER 2009

Providence University, and Jade Mountain conservation, visits and tours of various National Park and the Bunun villages within. Bunun tribes within the park, workshops, The first three days of the conference nightly festivities, and Indigenous panels. (October 21-23) will be spent at Shei-pa Currently, we are looking specifically National Park, where a special screening of for graduate student submissions of papers, Once upon a Time, an award-winning posters, panels, and tables. Submissions will documentary of Tayal cultural knowledge, be judged by a panel of experts in the field, will be shown to all in attendance. This will and the best young scholars will be asked be followed by various activities including to present their papers at the conference. Indigenous panel discussions, village tours, Scholars may also submit papers, although night festivities, talks by the Tayal on local most spaces have already been filled. issues such as the cypress debate and their People interested in the conference may efforts in flood control, and a visit to a Tayal email [email protected] for more farm that promotes natural farming information. techniques. Days four and five (October 24-25) will be spent at Providence University (Taichung County, Taiwan), where scholars will be able to present their papers on the sub-topics. Graduate students may also present their papers as this conference, as separate graduate sessions will be held to accommodate both groups. Indigenous representatives will host panels and discussions, and poster and table exhibits will also be open for attendees to view. A cultural night will take place on the night of the 24th, where Indigenous and Taiwanese culture will be on full display. The last four days of the conference (October 26-29) will be spent at Jade Mountain National Park and in the Bunun villages. Activities include visits to Tatachia to see a successful case of biological diversity

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Profile: Dr. Yih-ren Lin

Dr. Yih-Ren Lin is the In 2008, Dr. Lin hosted same movie that will be on Director of the Research Professor Holmes Rolston III, display during the Shei-pa Centre for Austronesian founding father of National Park portion of the Peoples at Providence environmental philosophy and conference. This film won the University, the ISE Asia founding president of ISEE, Platinum first prize in the Regional Representative, and for the St. Francis Lectures at ethnic/culture category at the the organizer of the ISE‟s Providence University, April 2008 Remi Awards in First Asian Conference of serving as the translator for Houston. This movie displays Ethno-biology. his talk on “God‟s Providence the topics of traditional From a scientific social- and Eco-centrism.” After this Indigenous knowledge and cultural analysis perspective, academic interaction, Dr. Lin related issues to the general Dr. Lin explores the wrote the paper “Pondering public through the relationship between Professor Holmes Rolston III networking of community environmental values and - A Perspective on Traditional universities and Indigenous Dr. Yih-Ren Lin: social migration of different Ecological Knowledge,” which villages. social groups. His main was accepted by the highly In the past few years, Dr. Lin Director of the research topics during the regarded Christian scholarly has actively participated in past five years include: publication Solitude and is set related international Research (1) the diverse cultural to be published in 2009. conferences, and has invited perspective on the ecological Other than his scholarly American, Canadian, English, Centre for value of the Chi-lan cypress work, he has used his Australian, and other key Austronesian forests; (2) Indigenous map research to successfully scholars to Taiwan for making and traditional transform the general scholarly exchange. Peoples, territories; (3) traditional education curriculum, with In addition to serving as the Indigenous ecological numerous awards from the current Asian Representative ISE Asia knowledge; political ecology Department of Education. He on the ISE Board, Dr. Lin has of natural disasters; (4) risks has also been chosen by the been a long-time active Regional and environmental Department of Education as a member of the ISE, management; and (5) distinguished scholar for his participated in the Representative, exploration of participatory work in a course entitled development of the ISE Code action research methodology. “People and the Environment.” of Ethics, assisted in organizer of the Dr. Lin has published many of From the perspective of translation of the Code of his findings in Chinese and action research, he combined Ethics into Chinese, and is ISE‟s First Asian English, including his research the ideals of general currently involved in the Conference of pertaining to the dispute education and the usage of development of the ISE Code behind Makao National Park. pedagogy to delve into the of Ethics Toolkit. Ethnobiology. In 2005 he was invited by social practice field with Professor J. B. Callicott, the “service learning” and president of the International received the Department of Society of Environmental Education‟s National 2007 Ethics (ISEE), to contribute a service learning/volunteerism case study on why teacher of the year award. environmental values are Starting in 2006, with the important for the textbook support of Shei-pa National Principles of Conservation Park and the News Bureau, Biology (Sunderland, Dr. Lin worked alongside the Massachusetts: Sinauer Wu Village Workshop and Associates), one of the few the company Path of Light in cases of environmental the production of the movie conservation in Taiwan Once upon a Time, a video published on an display of Tayal traditional international level. ecological knowledge, the

www.ethnobiology.net Page 4 Newsletter Title

Profile: Research Centre for Austronesian Peoples Indigenous tribes in Taiwan Austronesian Peoples resource for diverse refer to the earliest arrivals (RECAP) was constituted in communities in Taiwan. that have inhabited Taiwan the Christian spirit of love Indigenous people in Taiwan long before the immigration and justice in Providence are no longer a lonely and of Han people from mainland University, a catholic disadvantaged group, but a China. Indigenous people in university. By way of the part of a big Austronesian Taiwan, for this reason, also empowerment from the family. Having undergone the belong to a branch of grassroots social concerns immigration of communities Austronesian. Recently, and practices, RECAP and the history of linguistics, archeologists, and endeavors to build up a colonization, they are cultural anthropologist have platform of equal footing for collectively confronted with successively discovered that interactive communication many problems including Indigenous activities in and research development language revitalization, Taiwan have endured for up between international cultural inheritance, to several thousand or even Austronesian peoples and community reconstruction, over ten thousand years. Taiwan Indigenous peoples or Indigenous identification, Not only are the languages of communities. social development, tribal different Indigenous Additionally, we hope to education, natural communities in Taiwan motivate a new identification conservation in the context closely connected to each of diverse cultures to further of global age. Austronesian is other, they are also closely deepen the concept of thus regarded as a concept of related to various languages Austronesian in a unity which intensifies the on the Pacific and Indonesian contemporary Taiwan. The association in relation to islands. concept of Austronesian will language, history, culture, education, and development. The Research Centre for be a hopeful entrustment as well as a mutually treasurable

UPDATES FROM THE ISE The ISE Re-Envisioning Activity In the first issue of the ISE as a Society, we are established – one type is Newsletter (Jan 2009), the reaffirming the founding broad and overarching to impetus for “re-envisioning” vision of the ISE and address the “meta” questions the ISE and the results from reviewing our related to organizational the 2008 ISE Member Survey organizational structure to structure and financial were presented in the article strategize a future in which planning and the other type is Whither the ISE. At the time the crucially important work thematic. There are six of its founding in 1988 the ISE that is done by the ISE is working groups in total: was years ahead of the times supported in a self-sustaining  Organizational in identifying the need for full way. structural and meaningful participation The ISE Member Survey of all peoples and diverse engaged our membership and  Financial planning ways of knowing for effective provided background for the  Outreach and bio-cultural conservation Re-Envisioning activity, which Communication globally. The ISE has grown was launched in Cusco during  Education and Training and changed since its two special sessions at ICE inception, nurturing a resilient 2008. During these sessions,  Research international network for its the idea of having thematic  Policy and Advocacy members and facilitating working groups emerged. In A group of about 30 important exchanges through the months following, two its Congresses. After 20 years dedicated individuals with a type of working groups were long history of close

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The ISE Re-Envisioning Activity (continued) involvement with the ISE have recommended a concrete members to provide feedback begun exploring these themes strategy into the future. The on the recommendations, through focused online bringing together of ISE proposals, and priorities for discussion fora via email, visionaries for a retreat the future of the ISE, leading WiserEarth and instant facilitated the synergy, to a long-term funding messaging. creative energy and strategy and funding The work from these online commitment that comes from proposals drafted by the end discussions led up to a Re- face-to-face interaction. of 2009. Envisioning Retreat to During the next phase of the The second set of online took place June 8-12, 2009 in Re-Envisioning activity discussions will likely take Tofino, British Columbia, (following the retreat), we place in Fall 2009 (more Canada, where a smaller core anticipate holding a second details will be provided at group reviewed information, set of online discussions with that time). prioritized actions and a wider participant base of ISE

The ISE Global Coalition and Ethics Committee The ISE Global Coalition for Intellectual Property contribute to the Biological and Cultural Organization (WIPO) and international regime on ABS. Diversity, directed by Sarah United Nations Educational, Representatives of the ISE “The specific Laird, is the arm of the ISE Scientific and Cultural Global Coalition attend other that is dedicated to Organization (UNESCO). policy-oriented conferences goals of the promoting dialogue and The Global Coalition was as well. In December 2008, exchange between Indigenous formally accredited with Maui Solomon (ISE President Global peoples, scientists, observer status by the WIPO and former Director of the environmentalists and Secretariat in March 2008 so Global Coalition), attended Coalition are to decision-makers, and can now officially participate the SnowChange Conference, fostering development of as an observer at WIPO a conference devoted to promote shared objectives and meetings, specifically the Indigenous and local peoples strategies to protect the Intergovernmental discussions around the crucial application of biological and cultural Committee on Intellectual themes of climate and diversity of the Earth. The Property and Genetic ecological changes (read the ISE Code of Global Coalition was Resources, Traditional Maui‟s report on this Ethics, and established in 1990 by the Knowledge and Folklore Conference). Kunming Action Plan. The (IGC). As part of the Global specific goals of the Global actively The Global Coalition is Coalition, the ISE Ethics Coalition are to promote currently applying to attend Committee (chaired by participate in application of the ISE Code of the 6th meeting of the Ad Hoc Kelly Bannister) is responsible Ethics, and actively participate Open-Ended Working Group for the heading development international in international policy on Article 8(J) and Related and dissemination of the ISE discussions related to Provisions of the CBD in Code of Ethics. The Ethics policy protection of biocultural November 2009 which will Chair facilitates contact with diversity. focus on a number of organizations to ensure that discussions Using the ISE Code of Ethics as initiatives to protect the most recent version of a basis for its participation traditional knowledge and the Code of Ethics is being related to and orientation, the Global promote Indigenous utilized and distributed (an protection of Coalition is well-positioned involvement in biodiversity Executive Summary and to catalyze important conservation. Glossary of Terms was discussion and engage with biocultural Plans are also in the works to approved at the 2008 ICE). international policy participate in future meetings Several international diversity.” processes, particularly under of the Ad Hoc Open-ended organizations that have the Convention on Biological Working Group on Access confirmed posting of the CoE Diversity (CBD), World and Benefit-sharing (ABS) and include: www.ethnobiology.net Page 6 ISE Newsletter

The ISE Global Coalition and Ethics Committee (cont’d)  the CBD secretariat  Center for the Study of the world. (Article 8(j): Traditional Ethics in the Professions The Ethics Committee is Knowledge, Innovations (CSEP) at the Illinois establishing a four-year and Practices, Instruments, Institute of Technology review process for the ISE Guidelines, Codes and  Pragya, a non-profit, Code of Ethics. During the Statements) development organization, Autumn of 2009 we will  the UNESCO Global Ethics with activities in India, launch a new means for Observatory (GEObs Nepal and the United feedback and discussion using Database 5: Codes of Kingdom, working for WiserEarth, and there will be Conduct, search for appropriate development a special session for feedback “ethnobiology”) of vulnerable communities held as part of ICE 2010. and sensitive ecosystems of

The ISE Code of Ethics Toolkit

Plans to develop Duarte (ISE Coordinator). to outline the process for complementary materials The Year 1 leaders of this future revisions of the such as a “toolkit” to facilitate activity will continue to Code; effective implementation of support the development of Join us on-line: the principles and practices (2) Discussions on Ethics, an the Toolkit and will continue on-line meeting ground that make up the ISE Code of general outreach activities In order to Ethics were first introduced at for discussion of pressing and dissemination of the ISE issues and needs, sharing the International Congress of Code of Ethics itself. support [the Ethnobiology in Cusco, Peru experiences, etc.; and In the coming months, the ISE (June 2008) and described in (3) The ISE Code of Ethics will be actively seeking input Code of Ethics] the first issue of the ISE Toolkit Development. on what ISE members would Newsletter. Seed funding for like to have included in the While most of the led work and developing the Ethics Toolkit Toolkit and soliciting discussions will begin in was committed by The contributions to the Autumn 2009, this group is facilitate Christensen Fund for 2008- information clearing-house. already online and ISE 2011. Members are invited to join information Beginning in the Autumn of The Toolkit is envisioned as and send feedback! 2009, the ISE will host a an internet-based, sharing, the series of theme-based on-line multifaceted, multicultural, discussions via the ISE Global and multilingual information Member listserv and clearing-house containing WiserEarth fora, where Coalition and supporting material for the stories, challenges, and ISE Code of Ethics that will questions will be exchanged Ethics help people and organizations and documents, videos, transform the Code into papers, etc. can be shared. Committee action. have developed The first year of the Ethics Join us on-line Toolkit development was led In order to support all of this a new ISE by Jeanine Pfeiffer, Will work and facilitate McClatchey, Rainer Bussman, information sharing, the Ethics Group on and Yih-Ren Lin. Global Coalition and Ethics Committee have developed a The second (current) year of new ISE Ethics Group on WiserEarth. development is being led by WiserEarth. This group has Kelly Bannister (ISE Ethics three components: Committee Chair), Yih-Ren Lin (Asia Representative to (1) ISE Code of Ethics, for the ISE Board), and Natasha questions and discussion about the Code itself and

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The ISE Darrell Posey Fellowship for Ethnoecology and Traditional Resource Rights We are pleased to announce the results from this year‟s selection process for the ISE Darrell Posey Fellowship for Ethnoecology and Traditional Resource Rights Small Grants and Field Fellowship awards (2009-2011). We had an exceptional group of candidates for both programs and were pleased to be able to select from so many excellent researchers and community groups – we are sorry that we can award only one fellowship and two small grants! More information will be available in the coming months on the ISE website.

Small Grant Recipient: Small Grant Recipient: Field Fellowship: Martín Chavez is renowned CODEAMA (Amazon Johannes Henricus in Northern Mexico for his Conservation and “Jenne” de Beer is work on the revitalization and Development Foundation) is considered the “father” of revalorization of Indigenous a local NGO dedicated to the Non-Timber Forest Rarámuri (Tarahumara) sustainable development in Products movement by his ecological knowledge and the Amazon region of Asian collaborators, in that he practice in Chihuahua. Ecuador. has drawn global attention to this important source of Martín‟s perspective is Based in the city of Puyo, subsistence resources for holistic, integrating the valuing CODEAMA works with local local livelihoods as well as of language, natural history, a governments, rural Congratulations income for the rural and spiritual path, healing, communities, schools, and upland poor. philosophy and ethics with individual landowners to to Martín on-the-ground work promote best-practices in His work at the grassroots recording interviews with conservation of forests and level, in over six Asian Chavez elders, building a network of watersheds, as well as countries is rare in that he is activists and wisdom-holders sustainable agriculture and able to work with, (Mexico), in what he considers to be his community health. understand, empower, and mobilize forest-based CODEAMA life‟s work among his people This small grant will support Indigenous communities and among all people. work conducted jointly with towards defense of their (Ecuador), and This small grant will allow the State Department of ancestral territories in the Martín to launch a project he Intercultural Healthcare and sustainable utilization of Jenne de Beer has been planning with middle local Indigenous communities forest resources. school students to record the in the region of Pastaza, in (South East wealth of their own Amazonian Ecuador. This Fellowship will support Indigenous ethnobiological CODEAMA will facilitate the his dream of continuing his Asia) heritage and, most production of several video work to secure long-term importantly, support in them resource packs on the subject resource and land rights for their sense of pride, belonging of community health and the Indigenous peoples especially and responsibility for the use and management of in Indonesia, Malaysia and the continuance of the deep medicinal plants. greater Mekong region. Rarámuri knowledge and respect for these endangered ecosystems they call home.

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Final Reports from the ISE Darrell Posey Fellowship 2006-2008 Small Grant Recipients

SAMBILOG (through the Palawan NGO Network, Inc.) Samahan ng mga Katutubo at Maliit na Mangingisda sa Dulong Timog

For the last 30 years, the subjected to probing and properly documented the Indigenous Pala'wan and clarification questions. lifestyles and the origin of the Molbog tribes in and around After the validation, the NCIP Molbog and Pala‟wan who were Bugsuk Island in Southern provided a list of things needed claiming their ancestral lands Palawan have been treated as before the process could move and waters amidst the interlopers on their own land, to the next step, which gargantuan efforts of giant barred from their traditional included updating the census of companies who made their fishing grounds by a residents; endorsement of the lives and their claim an uphill multinational pearl farm barangay (village) council of battle. corporation. each of the villages; and In relation to access to The Small Grants Award agreement with the adjacent traditional fishing grounds, one supported an ethnographic villages with respect to the of the filed court cases has had study of the Indigenous boundaries of the claimed good developments. The court Pala‟wan and Molbog tribes of ancestral domain. By October has raised the issue of Balabac and Bataraza in 2008, endorsement by five out irregularity in the approval of Southern Palawan, Philippines. of six the barangays councils the Jewelmer Pearl Farm The objectives were to: were secured. concession within the area (a) regain access to traditional being claimed as ancestral Impact of Grant/Future Plans domain without undergoing fishing grounds; and The support for the free prior informed consent. (b) obtain recognition for the ethnography and collection of The former mayor of the title to their ancestral other proofs for the ancestral municipality of Balabac has domain. domain title has helped to been summoned by the court In 2006, a research team of sustain efforts towards the to respond to this irregularity. seven members, supervised by objective of gaining long term two anthropologists from tenure over the traditional These cases regarding access to traditional fishing grounds have Anthrowatch, conducted field areas. research, gathered data and also been taken up in national The ongoing proof collection level venues. Recently the issue interviewed tribe elders using and constant coordination with questions prepared by the of the failure of administrative the NCIP has also served as a agencies to secure community anthropologists. way to inform other participation and consent in the The first draft of the study was stakeholders of the serious and delineation of marine protected presented to the respondents unwavering commitment, areas was raised in conferences and the communities at large to resolve of the Indigenous on the drafting of the new rules verify whether there were any leaders and their supportive on the prosecution of information they wanted migrant partners to pursue the environmental cases. Such excluded or if there were any claim to the ancestral domain issues raise the concerns of corrections. Corresponding at all costs. local communities in the revisions were made, and the The ethnography and additional framework of environmental draft was finalized in May 2007. proofs lends credence to the justice. The study was then submitted claims for the ancestral SAMBILOG‟s future plans to the National Commission on domains. Because these were include pursuing economic Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) conducted by anthropologists, activities for its members to Palawan Provincial Office, along it is believed that the address livelihood concerns as with other supporting ethnographic proofs were the organization struggles documents, as part of the more readily accepted. onward. Alternative livelihood Indigenous peoples‟ Certificate The grant from the ISE helped initiatives, in addition to of Ancestral Domain Title the group reiterate the seaweed farming, are being application. ethnicity and the unique pursued. During the validation process tradition of the Indigenous Read more about (2007 - 2008), individuals who peoples from the southernmost SAMBILOG here had given statements were part of Palawan. The paper

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Final Reports from the ISE Darrell Posey Fellowship 2006-2008 Small Grant Recipients The Cordillera Women's Education Action Research Center The Cordillera Women's Project Orientation (seed peasant concerns, human Education Action Research banking, leadership, organic rights, and the Cordillera Center (CWEARC) is a non- farming) and Skills Trainings Peoples struggle. This also governmental organization in (research and data gathering, facilitated their networking the Cordillera Region, team building, meeting with different sectors and Philippines that works to facilitation and decision making, groups within and outside the empower Indigenous women project management). country especially on food through organizing, capacity- Community residents who had security and rights of women building and advocacy, and the „wait and see‟ attitude and children. assists community-based during Year 1 became more Overall, the objective of the women's organizations address interested in learning about project to further raise the their socio-economic needs organic fertilizers and multi- consciousness of women to and problems. cropping systems and many of participate more actively in the The problem of food them became active in agricultural sector and insufficiency in the Cordillera attending the structured and community and to be Region was caused primarily by unstructured trainings. Also empowered both socially and destructive corporate mining during Year 2, community economically, has been operations and then by the officials supported the project achieved. introduction of high input by mobilizing more farmers and CWEARC and the farmers‟ commercial farming systems. community officials to organizations in these The shift from traditional participate in the different communities are looking farming to high-input farming activities. forward that lessons and gains threatens food sufficiency in The women who participated from the two year project the community as many in the Seed Bank project gained would be used by the women farmers cannot afford the high technical skills in processing and farmers in the locality and cost of commercial farming organic fertilizer, multi- the wider community that the inputs. cropping, and integration of two communities and In effort to address concerns of multi-cropping and raising CWEARC are working with. food insufficiency, CWEARC domestic animals for food Recommendations from the used the Small Grant funding production. Some peasant Seed Bank project. from the ISE to start a children studying in the city community-based Seed Banking were also able to participate in The farmers need to: and Exchange project for food production through  actively advocate for the Indigenous women. The backyard gardening and raising government to subsidize objectives were to: domestic animals for food. and actively support seed (a) help women preserve The women participants banking and organic Indigenous varieties of became active not only in agriculture in the locality. rice, vegetables and fruits, participating in the seed  continue the experiment on (b) make seeds available for banking project but also by the regeneration of the use in the community and volunteering their leadership natural fertility of for exchange with other role in relation to this project. agricultural land. communities, and The project was successful in  defend and protect the land (c) strengthen the traditional the ongoing empowerment from further destruction role of Indigenous women process of women in the that is being caused by farmers as the seed- farmer-sector of the dependency on keepers in the community. community. It provided an petrochemical fertilizers opportunity to further develop Impact of the project: and large scale mining their confidence and helped operations. At least 250 community motivate them to actively residents and neighboring participate in their local and Read more about communities (mostly women) wider community concerns CWEARC here participated in the series of such as food security advocacy, education and trainings on Photos taken from 2007-2008, women‟s empowerment, courtesy of CWEARC. www.ethnobiology.net Page 10 ISE Newsletter

CONFERENCE REPORTS Snowchange Conference (Taranaki, Aotearoa/New Zealand, Dec 2008) —an international Indigenous Climate Change Initiative Contributed by Maui Solomon, ISE President

In recognition of the Inter- member of the Global The main outcome of the national Polar Year 2007- Coalition, attended the conference was the 2008, in December 2008 a Snowchange Conference in formulation of a Declaration in four day event, “Snowchange line with the objectives in the honour of the memory of 2008” devoted to Indigenous preamble to Annex 2 of the Mahinekura Reinfeld, a Maori and local peoples discussions ISE Constitution to: Elder from Taranaki who had around the crucial themes of “Encourage the permanent been a major driver to host climate and ecological and meaningful dialogue the conference in Taranaki changes, was held in Waitara, between indigenous peoples, but who had sadly passed Taranaki and was hosted by scientists and away before the conference the local Iwi (tribes) of environmentalists in order to was held. Taranaki. develop a unified strategy to As part of this declaration, The Symposium was officially defend the biological and the Snowchange Cooperative opened by the co-leader of cultural diversity of planet will work to foster the Maori Party and current Earth”. knowledge exchange and Minister of the New Zealand The kaupapa (purpose) of educational exchanges Government, the Honorable Snowchange is to research between northern and Tariana Turia and was the implications of change on southern Indigenous groups. attended by Indigenous indigenous knowledge – The Snowchange Cooperative delegates from a number of specifically, indigenous will work closely with all different northern and peoples in the Arctic Circle. participants of our southern groups: Symposium to send a The objectives of the Snowchange-associated “the  Indigenous delegates from Conference included: Snowchange Cooperative Indigenous delegation to the 1. To host a gathering of Snowchange (Finland) World Indigenous Summit on indigenous leaders from Climate Change in Cooperative  Maori Delegates of Te every part of the world to Anchorage, Alaska, USA in Hurihanga Haupapa Trust seeking solutions for April 2009 and hopes to will work to Aotearoa (New Zealand), ecological and hold the next Snowchange  other Maori Delegates environmental Symposium in 2010. catastrophe caused by foster from across Aotearoa It is recommended that the global warming; (New Zealand), Snowchange event become an knowledge 2. To mobilize the know-  Indigenous Delegates of ongoing forum in which the ledge, skills and expertise Chukchi, Evenki, Even, ISE Global Coalition remain exchange and of indigenous leaders from Inuit, Gwitchin, Aboriginal, actively involved as part of every part of the world Kwaugiutl, Sakha, Yukagir the core objectives of the educational towards finding practical, and other Nations. Society. effective and long term exchanges Local and international solutions; Mahinekura Reinfeld delegates from United States Declaration 3. To promote the between of America, India, Canada and collaboration of We, the Snowchange the United Kingdom were indigenous leaders and Symposium 2008, northern and also present. In addition, the general community RECOGNIZE that Symposium gathered a range leaders to raise social, Indigenous Peoples have been southern of other stakeholders educational, scientific and living off the land since time including government officials, Indigenous political consciousness; immemorial and that the scientists, researchers, traditional (and modern) planners and environmental 4. To provide a collaborative groups” cultures of Indigenous managers. approach by Indigenous leaders and general peoples are being threatened Maui Solomon, current community by a diverse range of social, President of the ISE and economic and environmental www.ethnobiology.net Volume 1, Issue 2 Page 11

Mahinekura Reinfeld Declaration (continued) challenges in association with Special emphasis will be communities and the Maori climate change. Not- devoted to industrial activities peoples of Taranaki. The withstanding the complexity which are planned on nomadic school of Nutendli of these challenges, and the Indigenous homelands. and the Evenki school of need to better understand 2. DECIDE on a concrete Iengra are the pilot the links between these often action so that the communities from Siberia to competing forces, the Snowchange network with start this work with Maori experiences and perspectives the Northern Forum from Taranaki. The intention of Indigenous peoples are an Academy (Russia) and is to host an Indigenous The latest issue often neglected source of Barefoot College (India) will education seminar in Sakha- understanding which offer initiate an historical South to Yakutia, Siberia in 2010 of Global important contributions to North pilot project whereby devoted to this initiative. In the way we not only interact Siberian nomadic community the interim period the intent Environment with one another but also women will be trained at the is to establish a network of our planet. Furthermore, Barefoot College of India to indigenous educators around al Change climate change is regarded as solar electrify several the world who can discuss a serious threat to the reindeer tents in the High and share practices that has a special existence and survival of not Arctic of Kolyma River in the promote the issues of and only Indigenous peoples but Russian Federation. This contribute to the section on life in all its forms. initiative is a historical event sustainability of our Earth. In order to find solutions to because for the first time in 4. CONTRIBUTE our work, Indigenous potential future crises caused history Indigenous women including an Indigenous by a rapidly changing climate from Kolyma will travel to assessment of regional peoples and the following India. The solar electrification climate changes, to the recommendations were project will promote Indigenous Peoples Climate climate change. undersigned on the final decentralized systems of Change Assessment under afternoon of the Symposium governance, bottom-up the United Nations by all Snowchange initiatives and gender equality Permanent Forum on participants. We collectively: in one of the most remote Indigenous Issues. Jointly with Click here for 1. ENDORSE that the regions of the World. This this process the Snowchange more Snowchange Network will unique pilot project having Cooperative will work closely develop a community-to- had its genesis at an earlier with all participants of our information. community information Arkleton Seminar will be Symposium to send a sharing tool that will offer monitored and assessed by Snowchange associated direct dialogue, mechanisms the Arkleton Trust (in the Indigenous delegation to the and resources to address UK). World Indigenous Summit threats, opportunities and 3. ESTABLISH an Indigenous on Climate Change in processes relevant to the education project between Anchorage, Alaska, USA in Indigenous communities. Siberian Indigenous April 2009.

Indigenous Peoples’ Climate Change Summit On April 20-24, 2009 the reflects and embodies a are on the front lines of Leading the Way: cultural and spiritual climate change. They observe Indigenous Peoples' Global relationship with the land, climate and environmental Summit on Climate ocean and wildlife. However, changes first-hand and use Change took place at human activity is changing the traditional knowledge and Dena'ina Center, Anchorage, world's climate and altering survival skills to adapt to Alaska (USA). the natural environment to these changes as they occur. From the Indige- nous People‟s Envi- Indigenous peoples from all which Indigenous Peoples are Moreover, they must do so at regions of the world depend so closely attached and on a time when their cultures ronmental Net- upon the natural which they so heavily rely. and livelihoods are already work, February environment. Their rich and In a very real sense, undergoing significant changes 2009 News Item detailed traditional knowledge therefore, Indigenous Peoples due, in part, to the (http:// www.ethnobiology.net Page 12 ISE Newsletter

Indigenous Peoples’ Climate Change Summit (continued) accelerated development of 1. Consolidate, share and consequences of natural resources from their draw lessons from the programs and proposals traditional territories stim- views and experiences of for climate change ulated by trade liberalization Indigenous Peoples mitigation and adaptation, and globalization. around the world on the and assess proposed Reflecting their position as impacts and effects of "solutions" to climate "stewards" of the climate change on their change from the environment and drawing ways of life and their perspective of Indigenous upon their age-old traditional natural environment, Peoples; and knowledge – the heart of including responses; 4. Advocate effective their cultural resilience – 2. Raise the visibility, strategies and solutions in Indigenous Peoples were participation and role of response to climate among the first groups to call Indigenous Peoples in change from the “[Indigenous upon national governments, local, national, regional perspective of the transnational corporations and international cultures, world views, and Peoples] and civil society to do more processes in formulating traditional knowledge of to protect the Earth and strategies and partner- Indigenous Peoples, observe climate human society from climate ships that engage local including local, national, change. The Indigenous communities and other regional and international and Peoples' Global Summit will stakeholders to respond rights-based approaches. bring together 200-300 to the impacts of climate environmental indigenous participants and change; Contact Person: observers from around the changes first- 3. Analyze, discuss and Patricia Cochran, Chair, Inuit world to pursue four key promote public awareness Circumpolar Council hand and use objectives: of the impacts and [email protected] traditional The Anchorage Declaration 24 April 2009 knowledge and From 20-24 April, 2009, the accelerating climate traditional lands, territories, Indigenous representatives devastation brought about by waters, air, forests, oceans, survival skills to from the Arctic, North unsustainable development. sea ice, other natural America, Asia, Pacific, Latin We are experiencing resources, and all life, adapt to these America, Africa, Caribbean profound and Indigenous Peoples have a and Russia met in Anchorage, disproportionate adverse vital role in defending and changes as they Alaska for the Indigenous impacts on our cultures, healing Mother Earth. The occur” Peoples‟ Global Summit on human and environmental future of Indigenous Peoples Climate Change. We thank health, human rights, well- lies in the wisdom of our the Ahtna and the Dena‟ina being, traditional livelihoods, elders, the restoration of the Athabascan Peoples in whose food systems and food sacred position of women, lands we gathered. sovereignty, local infra- the youth of today and in the We express our solidarity as structure, economic viability, generations of tomorrow. Indigenous Peoples living in and our very survival as We uphold that the inherent areas that are the most Indigenous Peoples. rights of Indigenous Peoples, vulnerable to the impacts and Mother Earth is no longer in a affirmed by the United root causes of climate change. period of climate change, but Nations Declaration on the We reaffirm the unbreakable in climate crisis. We Rights of Indigenous Peoples and sacred connection therefore insist on an (UN-DRIP), must be fully between land, air, water, immediate end to the respected in all decision- oceans, forests, sea ice, destruction and desecration making processes and plants, animals and our human of the elements of life. activities related to climate communities as the material Through our knowledge, change. This includes our and spiritual basis for our spirituality, sciences, rights to our lands, existence. practices, experiences and territories, environment and We are deeply alarmed by relationships with our natural resources as

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The Anchorage Declaration (Continued) 24 April 2009

contained in Articles 25–30 of B. We call for a process that C. Immediately establish an the UN-DRIP. When specific works towards the Indigenous focal point in programs and projects affect eventual phase out of the secretariat of the them, the right to self- fossil fuels, without UNFCCC; determination of Indigenous infringing on the right to D. Appoint Indigenous Peoples must be respected, development of Peoples‟ representatives emphasizing our right to Free Indigenous nations. in UNFCCC funding Prior and Informed Consent, 2. We call upon the Parties to mechanisms in including the right to say the UNFCCC to recognize consultation with “no”. The UNFCCC the importance of our Indigenous Peoples; agreements and principles Traditional Knowledge and E. Take the necessary must reflect the spirit of the practices shared by measures to ensure the UN-DRIP. Indigenous Peoples in full and effective “We challenge Calls for Action developing strategies to participation of Indigenous 1. In order to achieve the address climate change. To and local communities in States to fundamental objective of the address climate change we formulating, implementing, United Nations Framework also call on the UNFCCC to and monitoring activities, abandon false Convention on Climate recognize the historical and mitigation, and adaptation Change (UNFCCC), we call ecological debt of the Annex to impacts of climate solutions to 1 countries in contributing to upon the fifteenth meeting of change greenhouse gas emissions and the Conference of the Parties 5. All initiatives under climate change to the UNFCCC to support a we call on these countries to Reducing Emissions from that negatively binding emissions reduction pay this historical debt. Deforestation and target for developed 3. We call on the Inter- Degradation (REDD) must impact countries (Annex 1) of at governmental Panel on secure the recognition and least 45% below 1990 levels Climate Change (IPCC), the implementation of the rights Indigenous by 2020 and at least 95% by Millennium Ecosystem of Indigenous Peoples, 2050. In recognizing the root Assessment, and other including security of land Peoples‟ rights, causes of climate change, relevant institutions to tenure, recognition of land participants call upon states support Indigenous Peoples in title according to traditional lands, air, to work towards decreasing carrying out Indigenous ways, uses and customary dependency on fossil fuels. Peoples‟ climate change laws and the multiple benefits oceans, forests, We further call for a just assessments. of forests for climate, transition to decentralized 4. We call upon the ecosystems, and peoples territories and renewable energy economies, UNFCCC‟s decision-making before taking any action. sources and systems owned waters.” bodies to establish formal 6. We challenge States to and controlled by our local structures and mechanisms abandon false solutions to communities, to achieve for and with the full and climate change that negatively energy security and effective participation of impact Indigenous Peoples‟ sovereignty. Indigenous Peoples. rights, lands, air, oceans, In addition, the Summit Specifically we recommend forests, territories and participants agreed to present that the UNFCCC: waters. These include two options for action which A. Organize regular nuclear energy, large-scale were each supported by one Technical Briefings by dams, geo-engineering or more of the participating Indigenous Peoples on techniques, “clean coal”, agro regional caucuses. These Traditional Knowledge -fuels, plantations, and market were as follows: and climate change; based mechanisms such as A. We call on the phase out B. Recognize and engage the carbon trading, the Clean of fossil fuel development International Indigenous Development Mechanism, and and a moratorium on new Peoples‟ Forum on forest offsets. The rights of fossil fuel developments Climate Change and its Indigenous Peoples to protect on or near Indigenous regional focal points in an our forests and forest lands and territories. advisory role; livelihoods must be ensured. www.ethnobiology.net Page 14 ISE Newsletter

The Anchorage Declaration (Continued) 24 April 2009 7. We call for adequate and Nations Environment declare our communities, direct funding in developed Programme (UNEP) to waters, air, forests, oceans, and developing States and for conduct a fast track sea ice, traditional lands and a fund to be created to assessment of short-term territories to be “Food “In order to enable Indigenous Peoples‟ drivers of climate change, Sovereignty Areas,” defined full and effective participation specifically black carbon, with and directed by Indigenous provide the in all climate processes, a view to initiating negotiation Peoples according to including adaptation, of an international agreement customary laws, and free resources mitigation, monitoring, and to reduce emission of black from chemical-based transfer of appropriate carbon. industrial food production necessary for technologies, in order to 11. We call on States to systems and extractive foster our empowerment, recognize and implement the industries (i.e. contaminants, our collective capacity building, and fundamental human rights and agro-fuels, genetically education. We strongly urge status of Indigenous Peoples, modified organisms, and survival in relevant United Nations including the collective rights deforestation). bodies to facilitate and fund response to the to traditional ownership, use, 14. We encourage our the participation, education, access, occupancy and title to communities to exchange and capacity building of climate crisis, traditional lands, air, forests, information while ensuring Indigenous youth and women waters, oceans, sea ice and the protection and respect of we declare our to ensure engagement in all sacred sites as well as the intellectual property rights at international and national rights affirmed in treaties are the local, national and communities, processes related to climate upheld and recognized in land international levels pertaining change. use planning and climate to our Traditional waters, air, 8. We call on financial change mitigation strategies. Knowledge, innovations, and institutions to provide risk In particular, States must practices. These include land, forests, oceans, insurance for Indigenous ensure that Indigenous water, and sea ice use, Peoples to allow them to Peoples have the right to traditional agriculture, forest sea ice, recover from extreme mobility and are not forcibly management, ancestral seeds, removed or settled away pastoralism, food plants and traditional weather events. 9. We call on all United from their traditional lands animals, medicines, which are lands and Nations agencies to address and territories, and that the essential in developing climate climate change impacts in rights of peoples in voluntary change adaptation and territories to be their strategies and action isolation are upheld. In the mitigation strategies, plans, in particular their case of climate change restoring our food „Food impacts on Indigenous migrants, appropriate sovereignty and food Peoples, including the World programs and measures must independence, and Sovereignty Health Organization (WHO), address their rights and strengthening our Indigenous the United Nations vulnerabilities. families and nations. Areas‟” Educational, Scientific and 12. We call on States to We offer to share with Cultural Organization return and restore lands, humanity our Traditional (UNESCO), the United territories, waters, forests, Knowledge, innovations, and Nations Permanent Forum on oceans, sea ice and sacred practices relevant to climate Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), sites that have been taken change, provided our etc. We call upon the United from Indigenous Peoples and fundamental rights as Nations Food and Agriculture have limited our access to intergenerational guardians of Organization (FAO) and our traditional ways of living, this knowledge are fully other relevant United thereby causing us to misuse recognized and respected. Nations bodies to establish an and expose our lands to We reiterate the urgent need Indigenous Peoples‟ working climate conditions that for collective action. group to address the impacts contribute to climate change. of climate change on food 13. In order to provide the Read more about the security and food sovereignty resources necessary for our Summit here. for Indigenous Peoples. collective survival in response 10. We call on United to the climate crisis, we

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What are the main interests of ethnobiology students? Thoughts from the Peruvian Ethnobiology Forum in Lima, Peru Contributed by Gisella Cruz García, ISE Student Representative We have learned that a expectations would be in an the world, what is bottom-up approach is always Ethnobiology Student pre- published, known, and important in our field Congress Workshop. researched versus what is research. Nevertheless, this Students showed strong unknown in Ethno- approach is also important in interest in learning about: biological issues in each the academic world. Do region of the world. ethnobiology teachers ask  Methodologies: how to choose a place to Finally, they also found very their students what their important the issue of main expectations, curiosities, research, exploratory Share your methodologies (for learning how to communicate interests are within Ethno- the results of their research, biology? Do they ask them beginning a research questions and study), research methods in both directions - about their main concerns in downstream and upstream: ideas on the ISE ethnobiological research? (quantitative and qualitative).  Downstream: How to Probably most do, but this is Member Forum not always the case. I hope  How/where to search for best communicate their research results to the that this article will be a small the right information, on WiserEarth contribution to answer these where to find good communities they work questions. literature, how to easily in? What to “give back”? Last 30th April (2009) I had know about research  Upstream: How to best the wonderful opportunity to centers/institutes/ communicate their results meet an enthusiastic group of universities that work in to the politicians and Peruvian Ethnobiology Ethnobiology. authorities for policy students who participate in  How to utilize the results planning? the Peruvian Ethnobiology of the research. I am wondering if ethno- Forum in Lima, Peru. Some of biology students around the  How to write ideas nicely them participated in the last world have similar interests, in a project proposal. ISE congress in Cusco. After doubts and views. a presentation about the ISE,  What Ethnobiologists are To explore this further, we we started a dynamic doing in different regions have started a discussion on discussion about what they of the world, which the ISE Member forum in would like to know about methodologies they apply, WiserEarth. Please share ethnobiology, besides what what problems they face, your opinion with us and with their regular university how they get funding. the rest of the members of courses provide. We also  What the research needs the Society! discussed what their are in different regions of

Planning meeting for the 12th ISE Congress Contributed by Leslie Main Johnson The Tofino Botanical Gardens Americas Representative and Congress Organizer Josie hosted a planning meeting Verna Miller, ISE Secretary Osborne, and treated to a (22-24 May 2009) for the Leslie Main Johnson, ISE garden walk through the upcoming 12th International Coordinator Natasha Duarte, tangled candelabra cedars to Congress of Ethnobiology and ISE Ethics Committee the shore of Clayoquot slated for 9-14 May 2010. Director Kelly Bannister to Sound and the Tofino The local Tofino organizing discuss ideas for the mudflats, followed by a lovely committee (Josie Osborne, upcoming congress and view northern shrimp supper at George Patterson, Kelly the community‟s facilities. the Darwin Cafe in the Poirier, Dawn Foxcroft and We were welcomed to the Garden before getting down Nuu-chah-nulth Elder Levi Tofino Botanical Garden by to formal discussions of the Martin) were joined by ISE Director George Patterson upcoming Congress. www.ethnobiology.net Page 16 ISE Newsletter

Planning meeting for the 12th ISE Congress (continued) Contributed by Leslie Main Johnson Nuu-chah-nulth Elder Levi take advantage of both the integral to the Congress and Martin opened our working natural and human setting of to provide follow-up to the group with a prayer for our Tofino and Clayoquot Sound initiatives begun in the Cusco successful work together. on the west coast of Indigenous forum. We want We discussed a number of Vancouver Island, located in to express our appreciation practical and more the UNESCO Biosphere to Alejandro Argumedo for philosophical aspects of the Reserve. his vision in beginning this. upcoming congress, beginning The strong Nuu-chah-nulth Another important initiative with consideration of our presence offers some is the graduate student four themes: excellent possibilities for the workshop being planned by 1. Conserved and protected Indigenous forum and Gisella Cruz García and integrating Indigenous areas and people María-Ruth Martínez, which presence throughout the will take place at the Tofino 2. Cultural transmission of Botanical Gardens knowledge in protecting Congress. immediately before the and restoring biocultural While we were sharing our thoughts about possibilities Congress. diversity for the congress, Elder Levi Because of the nature of the 3. Traditional foods and food Marin commented that “to venues available in Tofino, sovereignty listen and to hear means to participants will need to 4. Other topics: putting ideas be open to whatever is being confirm their registration and into practice and adaptive shared”. We hope to accommodations well in capacity encourage sharing of what advance of the actual We shared diverse ideas and has worked in ethnobiological congress dates. See sidebar brainstormed ways to involve collaborations and applied and ISE website for more local community members, projects and how detailed information regarding local and international communities have been deadlines for session, and Indigenous participants, and successful in educational, presentation proposals, and academic and practicing heritage and resource details of available Ethnobiologists in a range of management initiatives based accommodations. presentations, workshops, in their traditional knowledge roundtables and field-trips. at the Congress. Read the calls for session The conversation also We consider the planned proposals and individual focused on identifying ways to Indigenous forum to be contributions here.

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Society of Ethnobiology Conference Tulane University, 2009 Contributed by Leslie Main Johnson

The 32nd Annual Conference anthropology. Dr. Carneiro photos from some of the past of the Society of Ethnobiology spoke about domestication of congresses, and distributed was held at Tulane University yuca or manioc. informational material. in New Orleans, Louisiana, MacArthur Fellow and activist A wide range of topics were USA April 1-4. ethnobiologist Gary Nabhan broached in the The theme of the Conference organized a plenary session presentations, from was Food: Crops and on Traditional Foods, which Australian ethnoornithology Noncrops. Dr. William featured presentations on a to healing plants and Balée, noted historical range of local and indigenous traditional foods in a range of ecologist who has worked food traditions, and efforts to settings, to the nature of with Ka‟apor people of the preserve them, ranging from Maya science and the role of Brazilian Amazon was piney woods heritage narratives or storytelling in conference organizer. Dr, livestock and farming systems transmitting traditional Balée knew Darrell Posey and to Cherokee heirloom seed ecological knowledge in attended the 1st International conservation to restoration interior British Columbia. Congress of Ethnobiology at of historic oasis orchards and Children‟s ethnobiological Belem. After an opening gardens in Baja California. knowledge, and reception at the Latin ISE member Felice Wyndham ethnobotanical gardens were American Library, where and Society of Ethnobiology also presented. Conference participants were incoming president Dana A delegation of women treated to a display of rare Lepofsky did a joint ethnobiologists from Qatar manuscripts of presentation Ethnobiology at a was present at the ethnobiological interest, the Crossroads: Where do we Come conference, and several conference was opened by From? What Are We? Where Indigenous presenters were Dr. Robert Carneiro, noted are We going? based on the among those who gave ecological anthropologist who surveys done of our societies. papers. Field trips included a has worked with the Kuikuro The ISE had a display table paddling trip in the Louisiana people of the Brazilian which showcased copies of wetlands, and a trip to the Amazon, and who elaborated some of our publications Crescent City Farmer‟s theories of the relationship of resulting from past Market, a center for the Slow environment and the origin of congresses, our newsletter Food movement in New the state which have been and the Code of Ethics, and Orleans. very influential in

IN MEMORIAM DR. NINA ETKIN: ETHNOPHARMACOLOGIST & ETHNOBIOLOGIST Professor Nina L. Etkin Louis, where she received an evolved into a multi-decade (Dept. of Anthropology, MA in 1972 and a Ph.D. in study of Hausa health, diet, University of Hawai„i) passed 1975. and medicine in northern away on January 27, 2009 Her early research Nigeria, through which she after a long struggle with emphasized the biocultural broadened her theoretical cancer. She was a dear friend, dimensions of health, perspective to work at the respected colleague, and beginning with her Ph.D. interface of biology and superb mentor. dissertation, which explains culture. Nina was born in New York the biochemical basis of She is best known for her City, earned her BA in protection against malaria pioneering work on the zoology at Indiana University, infection that is afforded by pharmacologic implications of and began graduate studies in an inherited enzyme (G6PD) plant use, especially the anthropology in 1970 at deficiency. interrelations between Washington University - St. Her postdoctoral research medicine and food, and the www.ethnobiology.net Page 18 ISE Newsletter

DR. NINA ETKIN: ETHNOPHARMACOLOGIST & ETHNOBIOLOGIST

cultural constructions of graduate and faculty levels. awarded the Distinguished health and physiologic Nina published extensively Economic Botanist award, the implications of people‟s across a range of disciplines. society‟s highest honor for health. Her CV lists about 130 professionals, at the Society In a later trajectory of publications, including 28 for Economic Botany ethnomedical inquiry, Nina (three of them books) since meetings in June 2009, in began research on the use of she became ill about 4 years Charleston, South Carolina complementary and ago. Her most recent book is (USA). alternative medicines (CAM) Edible Medicines: An Outside of her professional in Hawai„i. Her studies Ethnopharmacology of Food accomplishments, Nina was revealed that the uses of (2006). At the time of her passionate about hiking, CAM are not only for death another book was in botanizing, and pet dogs. She preventive and therapeutic production, Biocultural is survived by her husband actions, but also are Perspectives on Food, and and research partner, Paul statements about what it Beverages, and Association and Ross; three sisters, a niece, Excerpts reprinted means to be sick and who has another in process, An two nephews and their with permission from access to the knowledge and Ethnobiology of Darwin’s families; and a golden Plants and People substance of cure. Gardens. retriever. A Nina L. Etkin Volume 23, Spring Nina Etkin‟s first academic Her accomplishments were Memorial Fund has been 2009, with some position was at the University recognized through the established to support editing by ISE graduate students. Newsletter editorial of Memphis (1977-1979). She prestigious Regents‟ Award team; original article joined the anthropology for Excellence in Research, ISE Newsletter Editor‟s note: by Nina Etkin, lightly faculty at the University of and college teaching and I admired Dr. Etkin‟s holistic edited by Elaine Minnesota in 1979, and the merit awards. Nina Etkin is perspectives and excellent Elisabetsky, Michael University of Hawai„i in 1990. also a recipient of the Society scholarship. Her work was Heinrich, and Dan She chaired dozens of for Economic Botany very influential in my own Moerman; information anthropology MA and Ph.D. Distinguished Economic dissertation research, and has on economic botanist committees, mentored Botanist Award in 2009. Nina continued to be influential in award from news item extensively outside of learned shortly before her my teaching since then. I was in Plants and People anthropology, and served as death that she and Dr. very sad to hear of her 23:2 external reviewer at both the Michael Balick were to be untimely death. She will be

ANNOUNCEMENTS Ethnobiology Peruvian Forum (Foro Etnobiologia Peru)

The Ethnobiology Peruvian lectures for our members Conservation of Forum is a virtual and with researchers visiting Peru, Forestry Resources in the presencial group interested in and are making a medicinal National Agrarian University Ethnobiology an Biocultural plant garden. in La Molina, Lima. Diversity themes. This Our group is open to This year we have created a Group is formed by different universities and space in Facebook - please biologists, engineers in centers both in and outside of add as a friend and check on forestry sciences, Peru who like to share their our activities regularly. anthropologists, agronomists experience in a virtual or Regards, and other Peruvian students presencial space. and professionals who works ISE members coming to Peru Dra. Maria de los Angeles La in Peru. It was founded in are invited to contact us to Torre-Cuadros (Admin- May 2007 as a virtual group. organize a special lecture istrator Group /Admin- In 2008 we started meetings with our members. istrador del Foro) in the National Agraria We have a space with the e-mail: University in Lima. We hold Master Degree Program in [email protected]

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Check out the new Open Science Network! The Open Science Network in Ethnobiology is The open philosophy approach encourages an NSF-funded project that provides a everyone, regardless of level of experience, collaborative forum for educators and students to contribute and uses an open-group to create a new paradigm of science education. evaluation model that continues to develop The purpose of this project is to create new educational resources as they are used and curriculum and new ways of development that shared through the network. will keep the learning fresh, innovative, and Join WiserEarth and check out the Open engaging to each generation of students. Science Network today!

Looking for information on Call for Papers classes in Ethnobiology??

There is an open Call for Papers for the inau- The ISE is currently working with other gural issue of the International Indigenous ethnobiology societies to create a shared on- Policy Journal (no deadline). line space for resources in ethnobiology. In the meantime, for people interested in Submit to: [email protected]. finding schools that offer classes in ethnobiology, please see: the student section For more information please (under membership) on the Society of visit: www.iipj.org. Economic Botany‟s website, then click on “4. Directory of Ethnobotany Courses and Programs.”

GET INVOLVED WITH THE ISE

Give the ISE feedback on our Are you bilingual or WiserEarth fora multilingual? In response to many requests from the ISE We are looking for members to help translate membership for online discussion forums, submissions to this newsletter, our website, and the ISE has created an ISE Member Forum other key ISE documents. and an ISE Ethics Forum. If you are interested, please contact the ISE Co- Additionally, we have worked with other ordinator at: isecoordinator@gmail,com organizations to create the Biocultural Diversity Working Group forum. Join WiserEarth now to start participating.

Do you need help with WiserEarth or any of the ISE forums? Contact the ISE Coordinator at: isecoordinator@gmail,com

www.ethnobiology.net ISE Newsletter

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ISE NEWSLETTER Are you interested in sharing reports should be 350-500 Coordinator for more with the ISE Community? words in length. Feature information on submission of We are looking for articles should be in the range graphics. contributions to the ISE of 700 to 1000 words, and, We will acknowledge receipt of Newsletter. We are interested depending on the nature of the your submission, and contact in articles on research, article, may include references. you if any changes are needed. The reference style of the communities and projects, The Newsletter comes out current issues in Ethnobiology Journal of Ethnobiology is preferred. Please submit three times per year (January, and practice, and ethnobiology May, and September). For the in the news. Activities of material in .doc, .docx or .rtf format, double spaced. May issue, the deadline for Deadlines for related societies, profiles of receipt of submissions is April ethnobiologists or community We welcome photographs or 15. For the September issue, submissions to experts, and regional updates other graphics to accompany all the deadline is August 15, and are also welcomed. submissions. Black and white or for the January issue, the the ISE Submissions should normally be colour are both acceptable. In deadline is December 1. in English, and written or co- order to be of acceptable Material that is not time Newsletter: written by a member of the publishable quality, sensitive can be submitted at ISE. Other languages may be photographs need to be in .tif any time. April 15 considered on a case by case or high resolution .jpeg format, basis upon contacting the and should be 350 ppi or We are also interested in ideas Editor or ISE Coordinator. higher in resolution. Line art for theme issues of the August 15 should be of appropriate Newsletter. If you are Regular features of the interested in editing a theme Newsletter will include: quality, legibility and resolution. December 1 If you are unable to submit issue, please forward a  Notices of upcoming events digital images of adequate proposal to the Editor or  Regional updates quality, you can mail a good Coordinator and we can quality photograph to the ISE discuss timing and  Spotlight on ISE members requirements.  News from the Board Coordinator who will digitize the image for inclusion in the For more information, please  Student News Newsletter. If digital graphics contact the Editor or the ISE Short news items or articles files are too large to email, a Coordinator at should be 150-250 words. They CD with the images can be [email protected], may incorporate links to mailed to the Coordinator as and include “ISE Newsletter” in additional material. Research well. Please contact the the subject line.

UPCOMING EVENTS Flax - a resource for food and textiles University of Copenhagen Autumn 2009 and Summer 2010 In autumn 2009 and summer with flax rotting structures new methods of identifying 2010 the University of and archaeological archaeological fibre finds, Copenhagen will hold and/or written records for and two workshops on the theme textile production, "Flax - a resource for food  textile researchers working  archaeobotanists working with all aspects of flax and textiles". intensively with ancient processing. At each workshop, 20 records of flax and flax researchers will be invited to We are still open for more weed communities, participate by presenting new suggestions. research results on the  botanists working with old If you are interested in cultural history and evolution flax landraces, participating with an of Linum usitatissimum L.  molecular biologists extended contribution on Specialists of the following working with the genetic the theme, please email disciplines are called to information of flax species, Sabine Karg at participate: [email protected]  physicists working with  Archaeologists working

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UPCOMING EVENTS Indigenous Studies and Engaged Anthropology: opening a dialogue Durham University (UK) 15-17 September 2009 aim of fostering a meaningful A Call to Dialogue tion), Emma Cervone, Linus During the past decade or so, exchange between anthro- Digimrina, Emilia Ferraro, pologists and indigenous two fields have been develop- Fadwa el Guindi, Bertus scholars, bringing together ing that have the potential to Haverkort, Joy Hendry, persons from various indig- radically alter socio-cultural Rauna Kuokkanen, Marcia enous communities to enter anthropology: indigenous Langton, Gemetchu into a dialogue with anthro- studies and engaged anthro- Megerssa, Julio Olífera, pologists about the role and pology. While integration of Lauro Saant, Priscilla Settee, the two fields would seem impact of different Linda Tuhiwai Smith. beneficial and indeed, manda- approaches to research of

tory, up until now, anthro- and by indigenous peoples. pologists have largely failed to Click here for more details Organizers: Dr. Serena Heck- incorporate indigenous stud- or to register. ler and Prof. Paul Sillitoe, ies in their research, while Anthropology in Develop- Confirmed Speakers indigenous scholars are often ment Research Group, De- hostile to anthropologists. Mahbub Alam, Russell partment of Anthropology, We plan a three day meeting Bishop, Pat Caplan, Joji Durham University in September 2009 with the Carino (Tebtebba Founda-

7th Mexican Ethnobiology Congress & 1st Latin American Ethnobiology Congress 2-6 November 2009 The organizing committee of dalgo (UAEH), in the city of gresses will be published in th the 7 Mexican Ethnobiology Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico. the book Etnobiología y siste- st Congress and the1 Latin Abstracts must be submitted mas biocognitivos tradicionales: American Ethnobiology Con- by July 15th, 2009 in Spanish, paradigmas en la conservación gress sends greetings to the Portuguese or English, and biológica y el fortalecimiento ethnobiological community of the principal author will be cultural (Ethnobiology and tradi- the sister nations of Latin notified electronically by the tional biocognitive sysems: para- America and invites you to organizing committee. Notifi- digms in biological conservation participate in the events of cation of acceptance, condi- and strengthening of culture). the joint congresses which tional acceptance or rejection Click here for more informa- will take place November of abstracts will be sent out tion on submission of ab- 2-6, 2009. after August 3rd according to stracts and papers, and on the The events will run in parallel the decisions of the Scientific Congress publication and and will be integrated over a Committee. refer to the SOLAE website 5-day period at the central Papers and outstanding oral for more general information: campus of the Universidad presentations on the diverse www.solaetnobiologia.org/ Autónoma del Estado de Hi- thematic areas of both con-

Society of Ethnobiology 2010 Annual Conference 5-8 May 2010 The theme of the Society of This year's conference theme The Conference will be held Ethnobiology‟s 2010 Annual celebrates the potential of from 5-8 May 2010 in Conference is: ethnobiology to bridge Victoria, British Columbia, disciplines, ideas, and com- just prior to the ISE Congress “The Meeting Place: Integrat- munities, and to foster an in Tofino British Columbia, ing Ethnobiological Knowl- understanding of the Canada. edge” connections between the Click here for more details. biological and cultural worlds. www.ethnobiology.net Promoting a harmonious existence between humankind and the Bios

ISE MEMBERSHIP DRIVE THE INTERNATIONAL We are pleased to announce a new membership drive for the 2008-2010 term. Our goal is to expand SOCIETY OF our membership base while encouraging new and renewing members to actively engage in the ISE in ETHNOBIOLOGY ways that are mutually beneficial and the build capacity of the Society to achieve our goals. Beginning September 2008 through May 2010, the ISE encourages membership fee waivers in exchange for in- kind contributions to the Society. Possible in-kind contributions include (but are not limited to) lan- guage translation, computer design/graphics, photography, editing, writing, and distribution of ISE ma- PO Box 303, terials (e.g., regional brochures, posters, Code of Ethics, etc.). We are very open to other suggestions 14 School Street for in-kind contributions and ways to encourage our members to use their interests and skills to be Bristol, VT 05443 active in the Society. USA Current membership benefits include this new ISE Newsletter, the option to receive email updates on Phone: 802-453-6996 relevant conference, career, and scholarship opportunities, networking opportunities with other Fax: 802-453-3420 members world-wide, and reduced registration fees at the ICEs. Additionally, the ISE has partnered E-mail: with WiserEarth to create a unique online community space for members of the ISE. WiserEarth is an [email protected] international directory and networking forum that maps, links and empowers the sustainability and social justice community. It also provides a Group functionality that allows us to have discussion and collaboration online. WiserEarth provides the basis for an exciting new group for members to have on-line discussions, announce events, and share documents with the ISE community. 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.

Updates on ISE activities inside MEET THE 2008-2010 ISE BOARD

Maui Solomon, John Tabuti, ISE President Africa Representative

Verna Miller, Andrea Pieroni, Americas Representative President-Elect

Yih-Ren Lin, Leslie Main Johnson, Asia Representative Secretary Patrick van Damme, Europe Representative Ina Vandebroek, Treasurer Gisella Cruz Garcia, Student Representative

Sarah Laird, Global Coalition Director Maria Ruth Martinez-Rodríguez Student Representative

Kelly Bannister, Josie Osborne, Ethics Committee Chair 2010 ICE Organizer

www.ethnobiology.net