Harmonious Coexistence in Science Domain
In a long-overdue recognition, traditional ecological knowledge, also known as native science or Indigenous science, is gaining traction in the science world. This ancient wisdom, passed down through generations, is proving invaluable in contemporary environmental conservation efforts.
One such example is the collaboration between Jamie Holt, an Indigenous biologist, and the Yuroks, a Native American community, whose California reservation borders Oregon and encompasses vast swathes of the Klamath River. Holt, along with a small team of scientists, both Yuroks and non-natives, is diligently examining bits and pieces of fish through a microscope onboard a small, blue boat. Their focus? Designing a 5,600 square mile marine sanctuary off the Central California coast to protect the ocean from oil drilling and offshore wind farms.
The Yuroks, known as the Salmon People, have a deep connection with their environment. Salmon is central to their origin story, and for years, Jamie Holt has documented the catastrophic decline in chinook salmon. The sanctuary project is a significant step towards reversing this trend.
The project is currently in its public comment phase, inviting broader community involvement and support.
Simultaneously, in another part of California, Violet Sage Walker, chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, is the driving force behind a collaboration with researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara. The tribe is working with universities to reroute waterways, remove invasive plants, create riparian buffer zones, and reintroduce native species like beavers and Bonneville cutthroat trout.
Respect for Indigenous knowledge is a cornerstone of these collaborations. Linda Black Elk, an ethnobotanist and Native scientist, emphasises its importance in scientific research, while Robin Wall Kimmerer, an environmental scientist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, highlights the challenges in getting scientists to consider its validity.
The US Forest Service is also recognising the importance of working with tribes. They are focusing on expanding tribal co-management opportunities and supporting tribal self-governance. Many tribes even have their own fire management agencies, employing age-old methods like prescribed burning to clear downed trees, control plant disease, and reduce wildfire.
In the face of an increasingly inhospitable climate, government agencies are approaching tribes like the Yuroks for help in managing the land. Frankie Myers, chairman of the Yurok Tribe, states that managing harsh conditions is nothing new for many tribes, who have suffered through centuries of racism.
Elsewhere, the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation is restoring 700 acres of land they purchased in 2018, which is sacred to the tribe and the site of a massacre of Native Americans by the U.S. military.
Meanwhile, Joseph Lopez, a member of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, is collaborating with Stephen Palumbi, a marine biologist from Stanford University, on a new project to assess marine biodiversity using a capture-free method. The sampling will be key in tracking the effects of the sanctuary on ocean health. However, due to unfavorable sea conditions, Palumbi and Lopez had to postpone their ocean journey.
When they do set sail, Palumbi's team will be using a handcrafted canoe called Little Sister, a departure from their usual expensive boats. These collaborations are a testament to the power of Indigenous knowledge and the importance of respecting and valuing it in scientific research and environmental conservation.
