Introduction to Indigenous Ethnobotany Informational Video Released October 6th (Zoom Discussion Meeting October 20)
The first program in the series introduces the discipline of Ethnobotany including Ethnobotany's intellectual focus, history, methodologies and techniques.
Indigenous North American botanical materials and world view. Informational Video Released November 3rd (Zoom Discussion Meeting November17)
We will discuss the basics of ethnobotanical (and allied) Native healing culinary and industrial arts; from the spiritual doctrines of animism and metaconnection; crop and wild-collected plants as relatives or allies, to the idea of place-based healing using botanical and geomorphic strength/power inherent in specific areas such as cornfields or the "monte."
Bark, Wood and Root: Wabanaki Industrial Ethnobotany Informational Video Released December 1st (Zoom Discussion Meeting December 15 at 6:00p.m.)
In a sense, the tourist craft arts of basketry, bark craft, root clubs and other forms, have defined a large portion of Wabanaki Identity and resistance. These are just a small part of the bewildering complexity of industrial materials produced for food, clothing shelter transportation and ceremony.
Wabanaki Botanical Medicine Informational Video Released January 5th (Zoom Discussion Meeting January 19)
Wabanaki medicine is a very subtle and complex discipline that requires years of apprenticeship. The spirituality and metaphysical characteristics of plants and their habitats, as well as nuances of wild and cultivated plant species selection, time of harvest, even the side of the plant to harvest, must be understood before venturing into nature's pharmacy.
Chasing Seeds Informational Video Released February 2nd (Zoom Discussion Meeting February 16)
This online class discusses the comprehensive Wabanaki seed catalog, including stories of chasing down the seeds, how they turned out in cultivation. Of the 54 currently known species and varieties in the catalog, perhaps 30 are significant and will be discussed individually; including their taste and nutrition and tips on how to properly grow them together.
The Lost Wabanaki Garden Informational Video Released March 2nd (Zoom Discussion Meeting March16)
In this online session, we learn how to create fields and crop mixes that support and enhance each other -- to produce larger crops of more nutritious foods. We explore the role of minor agricultural ritual such as anchoring and singing the crops to germination, growth and ripeness. This lesson will also focus on the types of edible/ medicinal trees (plums, etc.), shrubs (hazelnuts, etc.), subshrubs (sweetfern, etc.), vines (grapes, etc.) and herbaceous perennials (Jerusalem artichokes, etc.) and herbs (white sage, etc.) that may be organized as a "garden forest," organized by canopy height, stratum by light, water and nutrient requirements -- to optimize production.
The Wabanaki Harvest Informational Video Released April 6th (Zoom Discussion Meeting April 20)
This session focuses on the Harvest, the most comprehensive Vermont Abenaki Ethnobotanical manifestation, incorporating field, village community and spirit. The harvest includes gathering of late summer and early fall wild plants, migratory and local animals, and the ripening agricultural crops. We begin with the origins of the Late August Green Corn Ceremony that seem embedded in half-forgotten legends of the Abenaki Creation Time, and encoded in the controversial Corn Song. We will then discuss the current Green Corn Ceremony revitalization program at the Vermont Indigenous Heritage Center. We then examine the Center's October Harvest Celebration, a tradition of community gathering together with story, music, song and dance to bless the botanical medicines, fish and game, wood and bark, corn, beans, squash, sunflowers, Jerusalem artichokes have been processed and safely stored away for the winter. We will conclude with a discussion of Wabanaki foodways -- those rituals and protocols that accompany the eating of the harvest.
Wabanaki Ethnobotanical Spirituality Informational Video Released May 4th (Zoom Discussion Meeting May 18)
The Wabanaki Peoples, which include the Abenakis, Penobscots, Passamaquoddies, Maliseets and Micmaqs, consider personal and community well-being intimately tied together. We examine written and oral Indigenous stories, songs, foods and medicines as insights into health and wellbeing. We will discuss the three types of medicine people. Plant-based ritual not only reminds people of the passage of the agricultural clock, but also informs and structures the types and availability of healing and wellbeing options available, as well as the role of ceremony.