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#stewardship — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #stewardship, aggregated by home.social.

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  1. “The master of the garden is the one who waters it, trims the branches, plants the seeds, and pulls the weeds. If you merely stroll through the garden, you are but an acolyte.”
    ― Vera Nazarian

    #Bot #Quote #Acolyte #Caring #Effort #Experience #Garden #Gardener #Gardening #Guardian #Knowledge #Learn #Learning #Master #Planting #Responsibility #Responsible #Steward #Stewardship #Student #Wisdom #World

  2. As #EastAfrica’s oceans change, coastal women build new livelihoods

    By ALLAN OLINGO, July 5, 2026 at 10:36 pm

    MALINDI, #Kenya (AP) — "The unfinished restaurant is still little more than concrete walls and wooden beams. As her daughter sweeps away the last piles of sand, 54-year-old Nuru Mohammed directs women hanging fishing nets to serve as decor. In a few days, the beachside restaurant on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast will open, offering another way to earn a living.

    " 'For us women, this is hope,' says Mohammed, who, for most of her life, was one of the few fisherwomen in Malindi, a town northeast of the port city of #Mombasa. 'It will help support many families that have depended on the ocean for decades.'

    "Across East Africa’s coast, fisherfolk are increasingly turning to tourism, #EcosystemRestoration and other conservation-based businesses, reinventing their relationship with the sea as #ClimateChange, #overfishing and declining ocean health threaten their livelihoods.

    "In Kenya, women are turning restored #MangroveForests into sources of income through #beekeeping and #ecotourism. In #Tanzania’s #Zanzibar archipelago, fishing communities are protecting #CoralReefs through locally managed closures. In #Mozambique, #SeaGrassRestoration is creating jobs while reviving marine habitats. Together, these efforts are redefining resilience, not as leaving the ocean behind, but as restoring it while building enduring livelihoods.

    " 'Communities that depend on the ocean are also its best stewards,' said Andreane Martel, project director for a conservation program dubbed #ReSea. 'When local people, especially women, lead conservation, they protect #biodiversity while creating more resilient and inclusive livelihoods.' "

    Read more:
    seattletimes.com/business/as-e

    Archived version:
    archive.ph/LTBNs

    #SolarPunkSunday #ClimateResilience #OceansAreLife #Stewardship

  3. In #Guatemala, #Indigenous women build #ClimateResilience with old and new farming methods

    #AncestralKnowledge combined with #climatesmart techniques is boosting #FoodSecurity and increasing family incomes in the #LakeAtitlán region

    Adam Wentworth, July 2, 2026

    Excerpt: "The impacts of #ClimateChange on Indigenous communities can often lead to further #environmental damage as farmers are forced to rely on unsustainable practices, such as cutting down trees to clear more land. This can accelerate water scarcity, soil erosion and ultimately food insecurity.

    "An ongoing adaptation project led by Natün has sought to reverse these impacts, working with local people to combine modern climate-smart agriculture and ancestral knowledge. The approach involves the use of #DroughtResistant crops, organic pest management and #SoilConservation techniques. This is increasingly recognised as an effective way to strengthen climate resilience.

    " 'Our approach is based on soil analysis and the use of locally resilient, endemic tree species, significantly increasing survival rates and ensuring sustainable water availability despite changing rainfall patterns,' Wason explained."

    Read more:
    climatechangenews.com/2026/07/

    #SolarPunkSunday #NaturalPestControl #ClimateChangeGardening #SoilHealth #IndigenousKnowledge #TEK #Stewardship #OrganicFarming #Mayan #NewTechnology #NahualateRiverBasin #AgriculturalResilience #TraditionalEcologicalKnowledge

  4. Twenty-five critical areas for #biodiversity nationally recognized in #NovaScotia

    "#KBA [ #KeyBiodiversityArea] designation does not create legal protection. However, it does provide the evidence base to drive advocacy for protection where it’s needed most, as well as data to guide land-use planning and regional #stewardship."

    Peter Soroye, 6/29/2026

    Notable quotes:
    “In 2025, 10 #PipingPlover pairs produced 24 fledglings within the #MiddleOhio to #PortJoli KBA - an incredible success, which demonstrates the area’s importance to this species at risk. We're thrilled to see so many valuable habitats recognized; from across the #WabanakiAcadian forests to the ocean.” – Sue Abbott, Associate Director – Atlantic Programs, Birds Canada

    "Canada's #biosphere regions are places where science, communities, and #FirstNations combine their knowledge to care for the living world. The identification of 79 Key Biodiversity Areas across our Canadian biosphere regions, including the 25 announced today in Nova Scotia, illustrates what this network achieves in practice: contributing to Canada's biodiversity commitments and to the targets of the Force of Nature Strategy. Each designation is a collective victory that confirms the value of managing our territories by mobilizing all available knowledge, at every scale.” - Kate Potter, Executive Director, Canadian Biosphere Regions Association."

    Learn more:
    wcscanada.org/newsroom/news/tw

    #SolarPunkSunday #CriticalHabitats #ProtectNature #Miqmak #Canada #Stewardship #EndangeredSpecial #TraditionalEcologicalKnowledge

  5. It's here! Finally we're ready to officially announce "Becoming Stewards Where We Already Are".

    Four Saturdays in September, online: this is a four-part course on what changes when you stop treating yourself as standing outside the ecosystem you live in.

    You do not need land! A good part of this is the argument that your "site" is not your "property", but rather is every place, flow and relationship you can actually reach and affect, which for one person is six acres and for another is a balcony, a verge, a vacant lot, a restaurant's compost bucket, the woods behind the trailer park. The people nearest you are part of it too, and they are the largest part.

    Four sessions: how to observe the ground you can reach and what is worth observing rather than merely looking at, how to read what a growing system actually runs on including the inputs that arrive on a truck and are never counted, and how to plan something that feeds you without asking the place to subsidize you indefinitely. Half of every session is discussion, because eight people in eight different situations will teach each other things we could not.

    The examples come from the Ranch, as well as our experiences living in a variety of other ecosystems: the forests of Michigan, New York, Oakland, New Orleans, Tampa, Crestline: and learning that the transferable part was never the species list, it was the questions. We will not claim expertise in your climate but we will offer you the questions that build it.

    Eight seats, pay what you can, one seat at the top of the scale covers one at the bottom. Three tiers are available at the booking link below, pick the one you can afford OR send me a message if you cannot and I'll see what I can do!

    Saturdays 5 / 12 / 19 / 26 September, 15:00 UTC (8:00 Pacific), one hour each. [link]

    We'll be hosting this on Jitsi, and the link isn't live yet but will be added to your course registration and sent our via email before the event.

    ALL of the materials from the class will be published and available for free once it's done. We still firmly believe that knowledge should always be free. The value in the paid class is the discussion, the access to immediate questions answered, and knowing that you're helping support the Ranch, but you know that you can always email us questions and we're happy to share. Ultimately signing up is a choice and we've tried to make it accessible but understand wholly that not everyone can access it, which is why even if you cannot everything will be available regardless :)

    app.acuityscheduling.com/sched

    #Stewardship #ClimateJustice #Climate #ClimateAction #Ecosystem #Ecology #LandStewardship #RanchoDeLaLibertad

  6. Finally working on putting together the Land Stewardship course for online so that y'all can even join us! We're planning on a weekend schedule in the morning so that we can make it work for as many time zones as possible, and I would LOVE your ideas for what platform to use that isn't Google Meet or Zoom. What video/group meeting software are you okay with using? What are you already using?

    I thought about Signal but am not sure that it's up to par for a long form group thing, but let me know!

    #AskFedi #Stewardship #Class #OnlineClass #CommunitySupport

  7. “It’s easy to understand that when people arrived on this landscape, that it was a landscape that was shaped and maintained by #fire and that it was exquisitely beautiful,” White says.

    “It’s easy to understand that traditional knowledge of fire should be integrated into fire management practices today, but, man, that’s hard to achieve.”

    #rewilding #forests #wildfires #forestmanagement #landmanagement #stewardship

    rewildingmag.com/indigenous-fo

  8. #OntarioGreenbelt is a Refuge for Species at Risk

    #Toronto, May 22, 2026 – "On World #Biodiversity Day, a new report published by #OntarioNature demonstrates the critical role that the Greenbelt plays as a safe haven for some of Ontario’s most vulnerable species.

    "The report – Species at Risk in the Greenbelt: Successes, Challenges and Opportunities – shows that since 2004, the number of species at risk living in the Greenbelt has increased by 68%, rising from 72 to 121 species. That growth far outpaces provincial trends, confirming the Greenbelt’s critical importance for biodiversity in southern Ontario.

    "The 121 at-risk species that inhabit the Greenbelt represent 42% of the total species at risk in Ontario – including rare birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and plants. Some, like the hooded warbler, are showing signs of recovery thanks to protected habitats and coordinated conservation efforts. Others, like redside dace and Jefferson salamander, are struggling as habitat fragmentation and pollution harm breeding and feeding grounds. The habitats the Greenbelt provides for the hooded warbler, redside dace, Jefferson salamander and many other species not only sustain this diversity of life but play an essential role in human health by ensuring the flow of clean water, filtering the air and providing a natural buffer against flooding.

    " 'The Greenbelt shows us what’s possible when nature is given space to breathe,' said Ontario Nature’s Acting Conservation Science and #Stewardship Director, Jenna Quinn. 'But we can’t expect it to do all the work on its own. Species at risk need action to ensure their recovery.'

    "According to Ontario Nature’s Conservation Policy and Campaigns Director, Tony Morris: 'The #Greenbelt isn’t just a buffer against #UrbanSprawl, it’s a refuge for a diversity of life. Greenbelt #forests, #wetlands and #rivers are vital strongholds for many species that have lost habitats elsewhere in southern Ontario.'

    "The Greenbelt is a cherished public policy that celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025. On this #WorldBiodiversityDay, we reflect on the importance of the variety of life on Earth and encourage actions to protect it. The Greenbelt’s role in protecting habitats and vulnerable species is more important than ever. Collectively, we must do everything we can to protect, strengthen and expand the Greenbelt to keep Ontario self-reliant, secure and ready to meet future challenges."

    Learn more:
    ontarionature.org/news-release

    #SolarPunkSunday #WildlifeCorridors
    #PreserveTheForest #ReconnectNature #Canada #Biodiversity #ProtectNature #Interconnectedness #NatureCorridors #EndangeredSpecies #HabitRestoration

  9. #HamiltonON - #MiniForest #Stewardship @ #DundasValley #MontessoriSchool

    "With mini-forest stewardship well underway, come join us in maintaining the mini-forest at Dundas Valley Montessori School, located at 14 Kemp Dr, Dundas! We will be meeting on August 4 at 4 pm in front of the school, where we will get everyone set up and equipped. We will learn about the importance of mini-forests, their design and maintenance, then get into removing invasive plants or weeds in the young forest, plus identify the trees planted along the way."

    To sign up:
    greenventure.ca/miniforeststew

    #SolarPunkSunday #Ontario #OntarioEvents #MiniForestDesign #MiniForestMaintenance #GreenVentureCanada #MoreTrees #MoreGreenSpace

  10. So, many years ago, my colleagues at the #WildernessSchool had permission to pick blueberries at the #BlueberryBarrens at #CrystalSpringFarms, and also foraged in the surrounding areas. It's a lovely place and I'm so glad that it's being preserved -- despite all the development in #Maine!

    Summer Four Season Walk at Crystal Spring Farm

    Tuesday, July 21, 2026
    3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

    Crystal Spring Farm
    277 Pleasant Hill Road
    #BrunswickME, 04011 United States

    Pre-registration required. Suggested donation $5-$20.

    "Come walk the trails at Crystal Spring Farm in Brunswick as we get to know #NativePlants in summer.

    Four season walks are a popular series and a staff favorite: each year, we pick a new location, and then take the same walk, once per season. We will all engage in observing and asking questions of our surroundings, and identify the varied plants, shrubs, trees, ferns, and wildlife along the trail. Each season brings something new and spectacular to look at. The goal of these walks is to foster relationships with place through relationships with plants, and encourage further #stewardship of our community spaces. Crystal Spring is home to a lovely blueberry barren #ecosystem that we look forward to visiting together. Thank you to #BrunswickTopshamLandTrust for hosting us!"

    FMI and to register:
    wildseedproject.net/events/sum

    #SolarPunkSunday #MaineEvents #MidcoastMaine #SpendTimeInNature #LandTrust #PreservedLand #ObserveNature #PlantIdentification #NativePlants

  11. Without data governance, quality and stewardship of existing products and systems, the investment of Generative AI models on top will not produce the desired ROI.

    superversive.co/blog/ai-produc

    #governance #stewardship #GenAI

  12. Reconnecting the Wild #Midwest

    Explore how #TNC is rebuilding connections between habitats to help #MidwestWildlife—and people—thrive in a changing climate

    Published March 02, 2026

    "Wildlife needs room to roam, and the Midwest is full of amazing habitats—such as forests, prairies, wetlands and rivers—that aren’t connected, leaving wildlife stuck and struggling. That's why TNC is linking forests, prairies, wetlands and rivers across the Midwest so wildlife can move, adapt and thrive.

    "What Is a Wildlife Corridor? Why Are They Important?

    "#Habitat Crridors can be interconnected land-based environments, such as #forests and #prairies, as well as #rivers and other freshwater passages that allow aquatic species to move freely. These healthy, #biodiverse areas are beneficial for people too, as they can help reduce flood risk to communities and provide more recreational opportunities in nature.

    "However, the Midwest region is highly fragmented. #Habitats are subdivided across different landowners, and many are highly degraded.

    "To address this, TNC serves as our own type of corridor, coordinating protection and #stewardship efforts across properties owned by many different partners. Through these collaborations, we help secure funding to connect science with #conservation on the ground and in the water.

    "Our work includes large-scale #HabitatRestoration projects that create and improve pathways, like our #CoastalRepair efforts in #SanduskyBay, #DamRemoval efforts in Southern #Indiana and our prescribed fire work in Southern #Illinois."

    Learn more:
    nature.org/en-us/about-us/wher

    #SolarPunkSunday #ConnectedHabitats
    #Wildlife #WildlifeHighways #WildlifeCorridors #MidwesternUS #TheNatureConservancy #Biodiversity #WildlifeConservation

  13. If Acts Happened Today, Would We Call It Communism?

    For many, "communism" has become less a political philosophy and more a conversation stopper. But is every effort to use our shared resources to care for the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable really communism? This article examines the difference between political labels and biblical principles, comparing the teachings of the early Church with today's political rhetoric.

    polymathchristian.wordpress.co

  14. #IndigenousKnowledge is crucial in the fight against #ClimateChange – here’s why

    Explainers
    July 31, 2024

    Summary

    - Indigenous Peoples are custodians of unique knowledge and practices that emphasize the balance between humans and the natural world.
    - Many Indigenous traditional practices offer effective climate solutions, such as sustainable agriculture systems and climate-resilient water management.
    - By safeguarding key ecosystems that act as carbon sinks and protect #biodiversity, #IndigenousPeoples provide an environmental service to the rest of the world. However, they are frequently excluded from decision-making processes and their rights to lands and resources are not always respected.
    - It is impossible to achieve the goals of the #ParisAgreement without full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples and their free, prior and #InformedConsent.
    - Governments must fully recognize the rights of Indigenous Peoples, provide them with direct access to climate finance and capacity building, and integrate Indigenous knowledge into climate policy."

    Read more:
    climatepromise.undp.org/news-a

    #SolarPunkSunday #LandBack #Conservation #Biodiversity
    #CommunityMonitoring #Stewardship
    #TEK #TraditionalEcologicalKnowledge

  15. I found this via @supersquirrel !

    #IndigenousLands are crucial for #ClimateMitigation and #resilience.

    Research shows their health is a direct result of #IndigenousStewardship.

    "As the impacts of #ClimateChange continue to escalate, a growing number of climate scientists and policymakers cite Indigenous lands as a model for their rich #biodiversity and effective carbon storage. But that recognition has not always translated into space for Indigenous leaders in climate negotiations, access to #ClimateResilience funding, or enforcement of #HumanRights standards.

    "That has been the case for decades. But the problems do not stop there. New research shows that approach overlooks the key role that Indigenous knowledge and culture can play in mitigating climate change. It also reveals a dangerous misconception that has taken hold in global climate discussions: the idea that Indigenous lands are so rich because they are remote or sparsely populated.

    "Nothing could be further from the truth. The health of Indigenous lands and their ability to store vast quantities of carbon stem from the stewardship of the people who inhabit them.

    "That’s the finding of research from Conservation International, which shows that traditional knowledge, community protocol, and Indigenous culture play a direct role in protecting forests, wildlife, and the environment. Sushma Shrestha, who is #Indigenous #Newar from #Nepal and the study’s lead author, said the research comes at a critical time.

    " 'All of humanity relies on everything that #IndigenousPeoples have to contribute and offer in terms of their lands, in terms of carbon storage, in terms of biodiversity conservation,' she said.

    "The study, released as a narrative report and a peer-reviewed study, explores how #IndigenousKnowledge and practices benefit the planet. It also found that all 43 of the surveyed communities are experiencing drought, extreme weather, and other adverse impacts from climate change. More than half are affected by #ExtractiveIndustries like #mining and #logging.

    "Researchers interviewed 49 Indigenous leaders from six continents about how they steward their land, which ranged from the Amazon rainforest to East African savannas and Pacific Islands. They found that traditional management practices like avoiding #overfishing, maintaining sacred spaces, watching for fires and other threats, and direct resistance against extraction contribute to the remarkable health of Indigenous territory. Ninety-six percent of respondents said they had land set aside for special uses, like spiritual practices, that also benefit the environment by protecting those spaces and ecosystems. Shrestha stressed that although each Indigenous community is distinct, there are shared lessons the entire world can learn from.

    " 'It’s a time where all hands need to be on deck,' Shrestha said. 'And collectively, actions need to be taken, and indigenous peoples have been doing this on their own for a very long time.'

    "The study builds on years of research that shows, among other things, that the world’s healthiest forests are on Indigenous lands and conservation efforts are more effective when they incorporate Indigenous autonomy and decision-making at every step."

    Read more [includes some really good links to articles]:
    sopuli.xyz/post/47753605

    #SolarPunkSunday #SolarPunk #LandBack #CommunityMonitoring #Stewardship #TEK #IndigenousSolarPunk #TraditionalEcologicalKnowledge

  16. Report finds Indigenous cultural practices are a climate solution

    goodgoodgood.co/articles/repor

    Indigenous lands are crucial for climate mitigation and resilience. Research shows their health is a direct result of Indigenous stewardship…

    #Indigenous #ClimateSolution #Culture #Stewardship

  17. Study finds #landback returns of #IndigenousLands happening across country, can lead public planning

    By Lindsey Gloede
    Jun 17, 2026

    “People, individuals, families, churches, city, county and state governments, nonprofits are all engaged in returning land to Native tribes with centuries and millennia of being connected to that land. It’s centering 500 years of Native efforts to reclaim the land. It’s a story of healing and #restoration."

    Read more:
    news.uwgb.edu/phlash/mediacove

    #SolarPunkSunday #LandIsLife #LandRestoration #LandConservation #LandPreservation #TraditionalUses #Stewardship #IndigenousStewardship #CulturalPreservation #TraditionalStewards

  18. The Barren Fields of Engineered Forever

    Learning to find the thing worth having in the transient, the imperfect and the weathered. accompanying piece of music As far back as I can recall, I thought of the transition from an analog world to a digital one as a form of transcendence. After all, any physical object is prone to wear and tear. Ourselves included. The mending process requires finite resources and the human touch; and there is no genuinely reliable way to back up something precious, something one of a kind or, someone. […]

    tsvetoslavshalev.com/2026/06/2

  19. #NewZealand - #RepairNetworkAotearoa

    "Repair Network Aotearoa is a national collective driving behaviour, cultural, and structural change through repair. Underpinned by Te Tiriti o Waitangi, we connect and empower communities, advocate for the Right to Repair, and grow Aotearoa’s circular and repair economy while amplifying #Māori-led approaches and research.

    Repair Network #Aotearoa (RNA) is a community-led organisation transforming Aotearoa through the #stewardship of repair and the growth of a #CircularEconomy.

    "Repair Network Aotearoa (RNA) is championing a culture of repair across Aotearoa New Zealand, guided by our commitment to honouring #TeTiritiOWaitangi. We connect and support repair cafés, educators, businesses, councils, and advocates working together to make repair accessible, valued, and normalised. Through coordination, resourcing, and advocacy, we strengthen repair at community, educational, economic, and policy levels. Together, we're building resilient communities, reducing waste, and creating systemic change towards a circular, low-carbon future.

    "Explore the history of Repair Cafés, find upcoming events near you, and connect with local repair communities. Whether you want to learn new skills, share your expertise, or fix something broken, Repair Cafés welcome everyone. Interested in starting a Repair Café in your community? We provide resources and support to help you get started."

    Learn more:
    repairnetworkaotearoa.org.nz/r

    #SolarPunkSunday #DoughnutEconomy #RepairCafes #RepairCafesAotearoa #ReuseRestoreRepair #RightToRepair #FixIt #Indigenousknowledge

  20. #BreakingNews! 🚨 #LandBack in #Maine!

    Land returned to #MikmaqNation will double tribe’s territory

    Nearly 3,400 acres have been returned to the Aroostook County-based tribe.

    by Reuben M. Schafir, June 22, 2026

    "The #Mikmaq Nation is expanding. The tribe on Friday obtained title to #MesgilgMaqamigew, a nearly 3,400-acre parcel near #BridgewaterME. The land return is so large it will more than double the tribe’s holdings.

    " 'For decades the Mi’kmaq citizens have seen their traditional hunting and gathering grounds disappear to development or private ownership not allowing access,' Chief #SheilaMcCormack said in a news release. 'This property will give our people a place for outdoor recreation, a place to teach our children how to hunt and fish, and a place we can pass down the traditions of our ancestors before they are forgotten.'

    "Of the four #Wabanaki tribes, the Mi’kmaq Nation received federal recognition last, in 1991. It and the #HoultonBand of #Maliseet Indians hold far less land in Maine than the #PassamaquoddyTribe and #PenobscotNation, which each have more than 150,000 acres.

    "#TheConservationFund negotiated a below-market value sale and purchased the parcel last year from #forestry company #HCHayne, then held it on behalf of the tribe. The organization worked with an alliance of tribes known as the Wabanaki Commission on Land and Stewardship, and #FirstLight, a group of non-native, land-based organizations, to secure $1.9 million for project.

    " 'Indigenous land return projects are a cornerstone of our conservation efforts,' Tom Duffus, Northeast representative for The Conservation Fund, said in a statement. 'I’m thrilled that this special place is once again managed by the Mi’kmaq Nation, whose citizens have stewarded this landscape since time immemorial.'

    "Mesgilg Maqamigew means 'big land,' a name chosen in recognition of the significance to the tribe of a parcel so large, contiguous and lush with resources.

    "The property contains #forests, #wetlands and more than three miles of #NorthWhitneyBrook, a stream with a thriving #BrookTrout population, according to Mi’kmaq Environmental Health Director Shannon Hill.

    "The tribe has already located #fiddleheads there, and Hill said they plan to use the land for #hunting, #fishing, gathering and timber. Snowmobile and ATV trails are available for public use.

    "#RichardSilliboy, a basket maker and former Mi’kmaq vice chief who sits on the commission, is hopeful the parcel has #BrownAsh for weaving — but expects, at least, 'some decent fishing.'

    "#MesgilgMaqamigew is the sixth to be completed in a series of projects spearheaded by the commission that are collectively known as the tributary land returns. The tributary returns comprise 52,000 acres in 11 discrete projects involving all five tribal governments in Maine at an estimated cost of $52 million."

    Read more:
    pressherald.com/2026/06/22/lan

    Archived version:
    archive.md/Bkbl0

    #WabanakiAlliance #Dawnland #ProtectTheSacred #ProtectTheForest #LandConservation #NativeAmericanNews #IndigenousNews #MaineSettlementAct #NativeAmericans #Indigenous #WaterIsLife #LandIsLife #LandStewardship #Stewardship #SolarPunkSunday

  21. ‪🚨 Save the date:
    I will be speaking about @offene_netzwerke at Digital Humanism Conference on the 26th of June in #Vienna

    @katjamat is moderating our #dighum26 panel on "Sustaining Digital Commons. The future of open knowledge stewardship" together with @mellifluousbox , Claudia Garád @WikimediaAT & @festal

    Come and join us!
    🔗 dighum.wien/

    #digitalcommons #openknowledge #wikimedia #mastodon #fediverse #mastodon #stewardship #open #digitalhumanities

  22. Legacy of #Indigenous #stewardship of #camas dates back more than 3,500 years, #OSU study finds

    May 20, 2024

    Excerpt: CORVALLIS, Ore. — "An #Oregon State University study found evidence that Indigenous groups in the #PacificNorthwest were intentionally harvesting edible #CamasBulbs at optimal stages of the plant’s maturation as far back as 3,500 years ago.

    "The findings contribute to the growing body of research around #TraditionalEcologicalKnowledge and practices, demonstrating the care and specificity with which Indigenous groups have been stewarding and cultivating natural resources for millennia.

    "Camas is an #ecological and cultural keystone, meaning it is a species that many other organisms depend on and that features prominently within many cultural practices.

    " 'If you think about #salmon as being a charismatic species that people are very familiar with, camas is kind of the plant equivalent,' said Molly Carney, an assistant professor of anthropology in OSU’s College of Liberal Arts and lead author on the study. 'It is one of those species that really holds up greater #ecosystems, a fundamental species which everything is related to.'

    "An eye-catching blue flower that grows widely throughout the Pacific Northwest, camas is referred to in Indigenous calendars across the region, with the plant’s growth stages used as a sort of seasonal benchmark. It is often included in traditional #FirstFood ceremonies, in which tribal communities mark the coming of spring with the first #SalmonRun or the first #EdibleRoots after a long winter, Carney said.

    "Camas bulbs must be baked for two to three days to render them edible. Once soft, the bulbs taste a bit like sweet potato, Carney said. Traditional baking was done in underground ovens using heated rocks."

    Read more:
    news.oregonstate.edu/news/lega

    #SolarPunkSunday #LandUse
    #IndigenousFoods #CulturalPreservation
    #NativeAmericanHistory #IndigenousStewardship #IndigenousHistory #TraditionalFoods
    #TraditionalFoodSources #KeystoneSpecies #PNW #TEK