DAL GRAUER LECTURER Nancy Turner

January 26, 2008

Lecture Synopsis: The Song of the Salmonberry Bird: Why Diversity Matters in Nature and Culture

Stories from First Nations along the coast of British Columbia feature a small brown bird, whose clear, melodic song in the springtime causes the salmonberries to ripen. In some traditions, including the Saanich (Straits Salish) of southern Vancouver Island, the bird - Swainson's thrush to ornithologists - actually sings the names of the different colour forms of salmonberry: golden, red and dark. This is just one small example of the rich and detailed knowledge of nature, often referred to as "traditional ecological knowledge," which has been generated and developed by Indigenous peoples through hundreds of years of residing in a place and relying on its lands and waters for sustenance.

A complex tapestry, this ancient knowledge embodies understandings of seasonal change, relationships among species and environments, and the many details that enable people to maintain their resources year after year without depleting them. These systems also exemplify diverse ways of conveying knowledge across the generations within a family and across different communities. Perhaps most importantly, traditional knowledge holders generally embrace a philosophy or worldview of deep respect and caring for all things, as relatives to humans.

In a world where both ecological and cultural diversity is eroding rapidly, and where we have witnessed tremendous environmental destruction from careless use of resources, traditional ecological knowledge and the values it engenders is highly relevant today. Like the song of the salmonberry bird, it can enrich our lives and teach us in meaningful ways how to care for our environments, and to sustain and enhance the diversity and productivity of our home places.

Salmonberry Bird Song (.wav file)