Harmonizing Science's Synergy
In a significant step towards environmental conservation, the Northern Chumash Tribe and Stanford University have joined forces to safeguard the ocean from oil drilling and offshore wind farms. This collaboration is part of a larger trend of Western scientists collaborating with Indigenous communities to protect the environment.
The driving force behind this initiative is Violet Sage Walker, chairwoman of the NCTC. The project is focused on collecting samples from the ocean to help the tribe designate a 5,600 square mile marine sanctuary off the Central California coast.
Indigenous biologist Holt, working for the Yuroks, a Native American community in California, is a key player in this collaboration. Holt and her team are using environmental DNA to study marine biodiversity as part of a project with Stanford University and the Northern Chumash Tribe.
The Yuroks, known as the Salmon People, have been documenting the catastrophic decline in chinook salmon for years. The tribe is working with academics from Utah State University to restore the land to its original state, including rerouting waterways, removing invasive plants, and reintroducing beavers.
In an interesting twist, Palumbi's team, who usually use expensive boats for their work, are using a more accessible method in this collaboration. The tomol, a handcrafted canoe used by the tribe, was used in the collection of marine samples.
Joseph Lopez and Stephen Palumbi, both scientists, are collaborating on a new project to assess marine biodiversity using environmental DNA. This partnership is seen as a new kind of partnership in the future of science.
Traditional ecological knowledge, also known as native science or Indigenous science, has been around for centuries but has been all but ignored by the science world until recent times. The US Forest Service is starting to work with tribes in earnest, including expanding tribal co-management opportunities and supporting tribal self-governance.
The Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation is restoring 700 acres of land they purchased, which is sacred to the tribe and the site of a massacre. This partnership between the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation and Western scientists is another example of this new approach.
Moreover, prescribed burning, an age-old method used by tribes to manage land, is being revived by the Yuroks and other tribes. The collaboration aims to protect the ocean from oil drilling and offshore wind farms, but it also serves as a testament to the power of collaboration between Indigenous communities and Western scientists in the pursuit of environmental conservation.
As the sanctuary is currently in its public comment phase, the collaboration is opening up a dialogue about the importance of Indigenous knowledge in environmental science and conservation efforts. Palumbi believes that working with tribes is giving him a new perspective on both how and why science is done. The project is a shining example of how collaboration can lead to a more holistic and sustainable approach to environmental conservation.
