MESH Grassroots

Lecture: “Pick only what you need” – Plants used by NWT Gwich’in

Alestine Andre

Over the centuries, generations of Gwich’in people lived in the northern Boreal Forest region of northern Canada, today known as the Northwest Territories. By the seasons, extended families subsisted along rivers, lakes, on the land, in the mountains and travelled far and wide amongst trees, shrubs and other plants to arrive at areas known for animal, fish and bird resources. Grandparents, mothers, fathers and members of the group each held individual or collective knowledge of the plants and their uses for medicine, food, fuel, shelters, or tools. While everyone possessed a basic knowledge of the plants, only a few folks held in-depth knowledge about the plants for more specific uses. In the Gwich’in Ethnobotany research projects carried out with Gwich’in Elders by the Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute over the years, Gwich’in people were eager to share their plant knowledge passed to them by their own Elders so the documented information can be saved for their grandchildren and other people in the future. This plant knowledge, still practiced today by NWT Gwich’in people and families, include teachings about respect for plants, their uses and is being passed on by harvesters, land users or school programs in Gwich’in communities.

This is an in-person event only. 

Learn more here: https://mesh.uni-koeln.de/events/grassroots/grassroots-alestine-andre