I started working in the field of ethnobotany as an undergraduate student in the late 1960’s. At that time there were few guidelines in place on how to work with Indigenous knowledge holders and communities in ways that were mutually supportive and collaborative. I provide a few examples and learning experiences from my own journey, now spanning over 45 years, and discuss some of the changes and some of the lessons I have learned. In particular, I will introduce some of my teachers who shared their knowledge with me, and reflect on the future of ethnobotany and ethnoecology as fields of study.

The Natural Resources & Environmental Studies Institute (NRESi) at UNBC hosts a weekly lecture series at the Prince George campus. Anyone from the university or wider community with interest in the topic area is welcome to attend. Presentations are also made available to remote participants through Livestream or Blackboard Elluminate. More information will be posted about the presentation as it becomes available.

Past NRESi colloquia and special lectures can be viewed on our video archive, available here.