PARENT SESSION
Symposium #28: Can Human Cultural Activities be Included in Reference Ecosystems?.

Organized by: D Martinez
Thursday, August 8. 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Maricopa Meeting Room, TCC.

The renewal of indigenous storyscapes through oral history & plant knowledge.

Nelson, Melissa^*,1, ¹ The Cultural Conservancy, San Francisco, CA

ABSTRACT- This presentation will re-examine the concept of "reference ecosystem" and suggest that indigenous oral history and plant knowledge be considered an essential source of historical data in determining the reference goal of restoration. Through an overview of two California Indian land acquisition projects (one in a mixed-conifer forest and one in the Mojave desert), site-specific cultural land practices will be discussed. By "re-storying" the land with oral history and traditional knowledge, contemporary restorationists can be more prepared to re-incorporate human cultural activities into sustainable ecosystem functions.

KEY WORDS: indigenous knowledge, oral history, ecocultural restoration, native plants