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Ancestral legacy of nature’s connections | Teresa Ryan | TEDxBerkeley


it’s more agates tomorrow gets to get

it’s more agates tomorrow gets to get them Hannah Connie get double-walled

them Hannah Connie get double-walled

them Hannah Connie get double-walled sick Jim hi yes – why you know Alps be

sick Jim hi yes – why you know Alps be

sick Jim hi yes – why you know Alps be her Knox devil so go get Lance and Jan

her Knox devil so go get Lance and Jan

her Knox devil so go get Lance and Jan devil wat GU hello my name is Teresa

devil wat GU hello my name is Teresa

devil wat GU hello my name is Teresa Ryan I am Sims an I’m a traditional Sims

Ryan I am Sims an I’m a traditional Sims

Ryan I am Sims an I’m a traditional Sims and cedar Weaver I’m a Chinook salmon

and cedar Weaver I’m a Chinook salmon

and cedar Weaver I’m a Chinook salmon scientist for Canada on the Pacific

scientist for Canada on the Pacific

scientist for Canada on the Pacific salmon Commission and I’m a post

salmon Commission and I’m a post

salmon Commission and I’m a post doctoral researcher at the University of

doctoral researcher at the University of

doctoral researcher at the University of British Columbia forests and

British Columbia forests and

British Columbia forests and conservation sciences my grandfather

conservation sciences my grandfather

conservation sciences my grandfather wanted me to become a fishery scientist

wanted me to become a fishery scientist

wanted me to become a fishery scientist I am a first generation scholar it was a

I am a first generation scholar it was a

I am a first generation scholar it was a role he had envisioned for me when I was

role he had envisioned for me when I was

role he had envisioned for me when I was a child he would take me to his fishing

a child he would take me to his fishing

a child he would take me to his fishing boats when he had work to do on them and

boats when he had work to do on them and

boats when he had work to do on them and he would tell me what Sam and mean to

he would tell me what Sam and mean to

he would tell me what Sam and mean to some Shan people and he would tell me

some Shan people and he would tell me

some Shan people and he would tell me about our ancient stories it wasn’t

about our ancient stories it wasn’t

about our ancient stories it wasn’t until I was 17 years old that he said we

until I was 17 years old that he said we

until I was 17 years old that he said we need you to be a fishery scientist my

need you to be a fishery scientist my

need you to be a fishery scientist my response was why I’m not going to be a

response was why I’m not going to be a

response was why I’m not going to be a commercial fisherman he said we need you

commercial fisherman he said we need you

commercial fisherman he said we need you to be a fishery scientist he was a kind

to be a fishery scientist he was a kind

to be a fishery scientist he was a kind and gentle man that very rarely ever

and gentle man that very rarely ever

and gentle man that very rarely ever spoke sternly and he was my elder and

spoke sternly and he was my elder and

spoke sternly and he was my elder and when elders speak you listen so I said

when elders speak you listen so I said

when elders speak you listen so I said okay okay I’ll figure out what I have to

okay okay I’ll figure out what I have to

okay okay I’ll figure out what I have to do I went and did a biology degree at

do I went and did a biology degree at

do I went and did a biology degree at Central Washington University with

Central Washington University with

Central Washington University with fisheries aquatic ecology emphasis I was

fisheries aquatic ecology emphasis I was

fisheries aquatic ecology emphasis I was pleased that I accomplished his vision

pleased that I accomplished his vision

pleased that I accomplished his vision for me but I was sad that he was no

for me but I was sad that he was no

for me but I was sad that he was no longer around to see that it wasn’t

longer around to see that it wasn’t

longer around to see that it wasn’t until my master’s degree program that I

until my master’s degree program that I

until my master’s degree program that I learned about why he wanted me to be a

learned about why he wanted me to be a

learned about why he wanted me to be a fishery scientist in my environmental

fishery scientist in my environmental

fishery scientist in my environmental law class I noticed that these laws I

law class I noticed that these laws I

law class I noticed that these laws I was studying

was studying

was studying not the same as simian laws about

not the same as simian laws about

not the same as simian laws about fishing and caring for the environment

fishing and caring for the environment

fishing and caring for the environment so my master’s thesis focused on a sedge

so my master’s thesis focused on a sedge

so my master’s thesis focused on a sedge plant in grace Harbor Washington estuary

plant in grace Harbor Washington estuary

plant in grace Harbor Washington estuary we call the plant sea sweet grass it has

we call the plant sea sweet grass it has

we call the plant sea sweet grass it has a delightful aroma but it isn’t the same

a delightful aroma but it isn’t the same

a delightful aroma but it isn’t the same as sweet grass the real grass it’s a

as sweet grass the real grass it’s a

as sweet grass the real grass it’s a plant we use in Simpson basketry my

plant we use in Simpson basketry my

plant we use in Simpson basketry my grandmother recalled as a child

grandmother recalled as a child

grandmother recalled as a child traveling by canoe from Prince Rupert

traveling by canoe from Prince Rupert

traveling by canoe from Prince Rupert British Columbia to Grays Harbor

British Columbia to Grays Harbor

British Columbia to Grays Harbor Washington estuary just for this plant

Washington estuary just for this plant

Washington estuary just for this plant see the way we harvest resources is

see the way we harvest resources is

see the way we harvest resources is guided by rules of use we have to know

guided by rules of use we have to know

guided by rules of use we have to know when to harvest it and we have to know

when to harvest it and we have to know

when to harvest it and we have to know the condition of whatever it is that

the condition of whatever it is that

the condition of whatever it is that we’re harvesting we only taken Mount an

we’re harvesting we only taken Mount an

we’re harvesting we only taken Mount an amount that we need that doesn’t

amount that we need that doesn’t

amount that we need that doesn’t necessarily mean a minimal ration often

necessarily mean a minimal ration often

necessarily mean a minimal ration often we took very large volumes this

we took very large volumes this

we took very large volumes this particular plant has to be popped out of

particular plant has to be popped out of

particular plant has to be popped out of its base one column at a time if you cut

its base one column at a time if you cut

its base one column at a time if you cut the plant then the plant will die and it

the plant then the plant will die and it

the plant then the plant will die and it said thus a high salt marsh so when the

said thus a high salt marsh so when the

said thus a high salt marsh so when the tide water starts coming in as you’re

tide water starts coming in as you’re

tide water starts coming in as you’re working away and sweats dripping off

working away and sweats dripping off

working away and sweats dripping off your forehead you have to stop because

your forehead you have to stop because

your forehead you have to stop because in with the water comes juvenile salmon

in with the water comes juvenile salmon

in with the water comes juvenile salmon and it’s the coolest thing to see it’s a

and it’s the coolest thing to see it’s a

and it’s the coolest thing to see it’s a reminder to us of others that use these

reminder to us of others that use these

reminder to us of others that use these resources and it’s also an indication of

resources and it’s also an indication of

resources and it’s also an indication of how salmon are doing for our future

how salmon are doing for our future

how salmon are doing for our future harvest I wanted to know how our access

harvest I wanted to know how our access

harvest I wanted to know how our access to natural resources became dismantled I

to natural resources became dismantled I

to natural resources became dismantled I wanted to know if I could demonstrate

wanted to know if I could demonstrate

wanted to know if I could demonstrate connections of our social institutions

connections of our social institutions

connections of our social institutions to our landscape in a region known as

to our landscape in a region known as

to our landscape in a region known as the Pacific Northwest this region has

the Pacific Northwest this region has

the Pacific Northwest this region has attracted many scholars for a variety of

attracted many scholars for a variety of

attracted many scholars for a variety of reasons over a very long period of time

reasons over a very long period of time

reasons over a very long period of time missionaries were brought into our

missionaries were brought into our

missionaries were brought into our communities to change us anthropologists

communities to change us anthropologists

communities to change us anthropologists came into our communities to document

came into our communities to document

came into our communities to document coach

coach

coach characteristics before they vanished I

positioned myself in the context of

positioned myself in the context of being an Aboriginal woman and also as a

being an Aboriginal woman and also as a

being an Aboriginal woman and also as a scientist in my PhD research and I

scientist in my PhD research and I

scientist in my PhD research and I learned that during the mid-1800s

learned that during the mid-1800s

learned that during the mid-1800s there were perceptions and

there were perceptions and

there were perceptions and misconceptions about Aboriginal people

misconceptions about Aboriginal people

misconceptions about Aboriginal people and generally actions were biased by a

and generally actions were biased by a

and generally actions were biased by a colonial agenda in my PhD research one

colonial agenda in my PhD research one

colonial agenda in my PhD research one of the profound messages that I was able

of the profound messages that I was able

of the profound messages that I was able to demonstrate was that by not allowing

to demonstrate was that by not allowing

to demonstrate was that by not allowing Aboriginal people to provide the

Aboriginal people to provide the

Aboriginal people to provide the stewardship of the resources has many

stewardship of the resources has many

stewardship of the resources has many costs including to the colonial state

costs including to the colonial state

costs including to the colonial state you see we measured these resources so

you see we measured these resources so

you see we measured these resources so that we can continue to prosper we want

that we can continue to prosper we want

that we can continue to prosper we want to make sure there are future

to make sure there are future

to make sure there are future generations of the resource for the

generations of the resource for the

generations of the resource for the future generations of people our our

future generations of people our our

future generations of people our our fishing was based on our own harvest

fishing was based on our own harvest

fishing was based on our own harvest strategies which aligned with the cycles

strategies which aligned with the cycles

strategies which aligned with the cycles of the ocean tides our sophisticated

of the ocean tides our sophisticated

of the ocean tides our sophisticated technology consisted of a variety of

technology consisted of a variety of

technology consisted of a variety of structures used for fishing many of

structures used for fishing many of

structures used for fishing many of these techniques capitalized on the

these techniques capitalized on the

these techniques capitalized on the natural environment by using both the

natural environment by using both the

natural environment by using both the natural cycles and also constructing a

natural cycles and also constructing a

natural cycles and also constructing a variety of traps and Weir’s and nets

variety of traps and Weir’s and nets

variety of traps and Weir’s and nets from materials from our forests the

from materials from our forests the

from materials from our forests the contours of the shorelines and the

contours of the shorelines and the

contours of the shorelines and the watersheds also provided some convenient

watersheds also provided some convenient

watersheds also provided some convenient engineering one particular method

engineering one particular method

engineering one particular method combined the tides shorelines and rock

combined the tides shorelines and rock

combined the tides shorelines and rock walls known as salmon tidal stone traps

walls known as salmon tidal stone traps

walls known as salmon tidal stone traps at the lowest tide these stone walls are

at the lowest tide these stone walls are

at the lowest tide these stone walls are above water with water and trained in

above water with water and trained in

above water with water and trained in pools and also salmon when they’re

pools and also salmon when they’re

pools and also salmon when they’re migrating through on their way to their

migrating through on their way to their

migrating through on their way to their natal streams the rock walls in these

natal streams the rock walls in these

natal streams the rock walls in these stone traps were purposely built at the

stone traps were purposely built at the

stone traps were purposely built at the river mouth or near a river by

river mouth or near a river by

river mouth or near a river by Aboriginal people at high tide the traps

Aboriginal people at high tide the traps

Aboriginal people at high tide the traps are submerged and the salmon swim over

are submerged and the salmon swim over

are submerged and the salmon swim over them on their

them on their

them on their way to their spawning grounds or they’re

way to their spawning grounds or they’re

way to their spawning grounds or they’re picked up by another predator it’s with

picked up by another predator it’s with

picked up by another predator it’s with great appreciation to the Donner

great appreciation to the Donner

great appreciation to the Donner Canadian Foundation we are able to

Canadian Foundation we are able to

Canadian Foundation we are able to investigate this ancient fishing

investigate this ancient fishing

investigate this ancient fishing technology and its use in the

technology and its use in the

technology and its use in the conservation of salmon

conservation of salmon

conservation of salmon we are also investigating the pathways

we are also investigating the pathways

we are also investigating the pathways of nitrogen delivered by salmon through

of nitrogen delivered by salmon through

of nitrogen delivered by salmon through the forest soils in our salmon forest

the forest soils in our salmon forest

the forest soils in our salmon forest project in science we know that marine

project in science we know that marine

project in science we know that marine derived nitrogen is delivered to forest

derived nitrogen is delivered to forest

derived nitrogen is delivered to forest every year in the mature returned

every year in the mature returned

every year in the mature returned migration of the salmon to their

migration of the salmon to their

migration of the salmon to their spawning grounds tree roots along the

spawning grounds tree roots along the

spawning grounds tree roots along the river bank and tap right into these

river bank and tap right into these

river bank and tap right into these nutrients but even more is accessible

nutrients but even more is accessible

nutrients but even more is accessible when predators take their favorite meal

when predators take their favorite meal

when predators take their favorite meal into the forest and what they don’t eat

into the forest and what they don’t eat

into the forest and what they don’t eat dissolves into the forest floor a bear

dissolves into the forest floor a bear

dissolves into the forest floor a bear or a wolf can bring a hundred and fifty

or a wolf can bring a hundred and fifty

or a wolf can bring a hundred and fifty salmon per day into the forest and there

salmon per day into the forest and there

salmon per day into the forest and there are several types of salmon predators

are several types of salmon predators

are several types of salmon predators including us the forest has a reciprocal

including us the forest has a reciprocal

including us the forest has a reciprocal relationship with salmon trees provide

relationship with salmon trees provide

relationship with salmon trees provide interception of rain and snow melt that

interception of rain and snow melt that

interception of rain and snow melt that moderates water through a watershed

moderates water through a watershed

moderates water through a watershed trees also provide shade to keep the

trees also provide shade to keep the

trees also provide shade to keep the streams cool for salmon and provide

streams cool for salmon and provide

streams cool for salmon and provide habitat for many birds and other animals

habitat for many birds and other animals

habitat for many birds and other animals our forests in the Pacific Northwest

our forests in the Pacific Northwest

our forests in the Pacific Northwest provide us with the Tree of Life Western

provide us with the Tree of Life Western

provide us with the Tree of Life Western redcedar

redcedar

redcedar from which we make baskets and masks

from which we make baskets and masks

from which we make baskets and masks clothing tools canoes and even houses

clothing tools canoes and even houses

clothing tools canoes and even houses trees offer us oxygen but we’re not

trees offer us oxygen but we’re not

trees offer us oxygen but we’re not giving back to trees right now in the

giving back to trees right now in the

giving back to trees right now in the forests instead they’re being taken at

forests instead they’re being taken at

forests instead they’re being taken at very high volumes for other resource

very high volumes for other resource

very high volumes for other resource values after eating salmon in our

values after eating salmon in our

values after eating salmon in our traditional way we would return the

traditional way we would return the

traditional way we would return the bones back to the river it was one of

bones back to the river it was one of

bones back to the river it was one of the ways of giving back to the resource

the ways of giving back to the resource

the ways of giving back to the resource and allowing salmon spirits to return to

and allowing salmon spirits to return to

and allowing salmon spirits to return to their underwater villages in our simpson

their underwater villages in our simpson

their underwater villages in our simpson worldview salmon have long

worldview salmon have long

worldview salmon have long houses and villages just like we do and

houses and villages just like we do and

houses and villages just like we do and they returned the spirit salmon spirit

they returned the spirit salmon spirit

they returned the spirit salmon spirit returns to their chief underwater the

returns to their chief underwater the

returns to their chief underwater the action of returning these bones actually

action of returning these bones actually

action of returning these bones actually provides calcium nutrients into the

provides calcium nutrients into the

provides calcium nutrients into the water and that helps to ensure that

water and that helps to ensure that

water and that helps to ensure that juvenile salmon have a more balanced

juvenile salmon have a more balanced

juvenile salmon have a more balanced environment for their success these

environment for their success these

environment for their success these ancestral knowledge systems have an

ancestral knowledge systems have an

ancestral knowledge systems have an astute awareness of the connections in

astute awareness of the connections in

astute awareness of the connections in the living world above and below ground

the living world above and below ground

the living world above and below ground and within the waters often are cultural

and within the waters often are cultural

and within the waters often are cultural expressions reflect some of this

expressions reflect some of this

expressions reflect some of this knowledge and it’s about our

knowledge and it’s about our

knowledge and it’s about our relationship to place this slide

relationship to place this slide

relationship to place this slide demonstrates a mask for every single

demonstrates a mask for every single

demonstrates a mask for every single resource that’s used in a quark walky

resource that’s used in a quark walky

resource that’s used in a quark walky walk feast this also represents

walk feast this also represents

walk feast this also represents biodiversity

biodiversity

biodiversity it’s a celebration about our Aboriginal

it’s a celebration about our Aboriginal

it’s a celebration about our Aboriginal cosmology we lost a lot of that we lost

cosmology we lost a lot of that we lost

cosmology we lost a lot of that we lost scores of people that died from disease

scores of people that died from disease

scores of people that died from disease epidemics and hostile incursions

epidemics and hostile incursions

epidemics and hostile incursions lifestyles were molded into some

lifestyles were molded into some

lifestyles were molded into some illusionary image and children were

illusionary image and children were

illusionary image and children were taken away it is amazing that we are

taken away it is amazing that we are

taken away it is amazing that we are here today and there’s no shortage of

here today and there’s no shortage of

here today and there’s no shortage of courageous stories prophecies that

courageous stories prophecies that

courageous stories prophecies that depict the fear of annihilation some

depict the fear of annihilation some

depict the fear of annihilation some salmon runs are already extinct and

salmon runs are already extinct and

salmon runs are already extinct and others are on the verge of the same fate

others are on the verge of the same fate

others are on the verge of the same fate the salmon that remain are experiencing

the salmon that remain are experiencing

the salmon that remain are experiencing wide fluctuations in their productivity

wide fluctuations in their productivity

wide fluctuations in their productivity we still know our ancient laws and our

we still know our ancient laws and our

we still know our ancient laws and our ancestral traditions but these things

ancestral traditions but these things

ancestral traditions but these things continue to be oppressed and

continue to be oppressed and

continue to be oppressed and marginalized

marginalized

marginalized we have heavy obligations to ensure the

we have heavy obligations to ensure the

we have heavy obligations to ensure the wealth of abundance continues in our

wealth of abundance continues in our

wealth of abundance continues in our environment through long-established

environment through long-established

environment through long-established traditions and this is our

traditions and this is our

traditions and this is our transformational power it is a way of

transformational power it is a way of

transformational power it is a way of knowing what’s going on in the future in

knowing what’s going on in the future in

knowing what’s going on in the future in the environment and what’s coming in the

the environment and what’s coming in the

the environment and what’s coming in the future

future

future thousands of times elders have expressed

thousands of times elders have expressed

thousands of times elders have expressed what should not be done or they are

what should not be done or they are

what should not be done or they are doing things the wrong way the way that

doing things the wrong way the way that

doing things the wrong way the way that we use to fish we no longer get to and

we use to fish we no longer get to and

we use to fish we no longer get to and we’re not seeing the salmon get to the

we’re not seeing the salmon get to the

we’re not seeing the salmon get to the spawning grounds salmon are in serious

spawning grounds salmon are in serious

spawning grounds salmon are in serious decline

decline

decline aboriginal technology evolved as a

aboriginal technology evolved as a

aboriginal technology evolved as a result of observations in the natural

result of observations in the natural

result of observations in the natural world that accumulated through cultural

world that accumulated through cultural

world that accumulated through cultural traditions and transmitted through our

traditions and transmitted through our

traditions and transmitted through our social reproduction as a result these

social reproduction as a result these

social reproduction as a result these strategies aligned with the cycles of

strategies aligned with the cycles of

strategies aligned with the cycles of renewal and respecting the connections

renewal and respecting the connections

renewal and respecting the connections in ecosystems the feast system also

in ecosystems the feast system also

in ecosystems the feast system also known as potlatch is the social

known as potlatch is the social

known as potlatch is the social institution that is the agency for

institution that is the agency for

institution that is the agency for demonstrating the success of stewardship

demonstrating the success of stewardship

demonstrating the success of stewardship and our social reproduction a PBS Nova

and our social reproduction a PBS Nova

and our social reproduction a PBS Nova series documentary titled Native America

series documentary titled Native America

series documentary titled Native America by Providence Pictures will air in fall

by Providence Pictures will air in fall

by Providence Pictures will air in fall 2018 that demonstrates how these

2018 that demonstrates how these

2018 that demonstrates how these activities are still continuing in the

activities are still continuing in the

activities are still continuing in the Pacific Northwest finally the last

Pacific Northwest finally the last

Pacific Northwest finally the last example I will share with you today you

example I will share with you today you

example I will share with you today you are here the McWane along people know

are here the McWane along people know

are here the McWane along people know this place through their ancient

this place through their ancient

this place through their ancient traditions of stewardship their

traditions of stewardship their

traditions of stewardship their ancestors conducted annual burning on

ancestors conducted annual burning on

ancestors conducted annual burning on the landscape to improve plant and seed

the landscape to improve plant and seed

the landscape to improve plant and seed production that practice would also have

production that practice would also have

production that practice would also have prevented fuel loading from fires that

prevented fuel loading from fires that

prevented fuel loading from fires that are fanned by the Santa Ana winds the

are fanned by the Santa Ana winds the

are fanned by the Santa Ana winds the way forests and landscapes have been

way forests and landscapes have been

way forests and landscapes have been managed over the last century by other

managed over the last century by other

managed over the last century by other means has caused disturbance in fire

means has caused disturbance in fire

means has caused disturbance in fire ecology this results in catastrophic

ecology this results in catastrophic

ecology this results in catastrophic fires especially in times of draught as

fires especially in times of draught as

fires especially in times of draught as we have seen lately with more and more

we have seen lately with more and more

we have seen lately with more and more wildfires

wildfires

wildfires over 1.2 million hectares burned in BC

over 1.2 million hectares burned in BC

over 1.2 million hectares burned in BC last year

[Music]

[Music] but some pretty difficult material to

but some pretty difficult material to

but some pretty difficult material to watch at UBC forestry we’re

watch at UBC forestry we’re

watch at UBC forestry we’re investigating these connections in the

investigating these connections in the

investigating these connections in the forests how trees exchanged nutrients in

forests how trees exchanged nutrients in

forests how trees exchanged nutrients in those pathways the Simard mother tree

those pathways the Simard mother tree

those pathways the Simard mother tree project is built on science about

project is built on science about

project is built on science about nutrient exchange and the mycorrhizal

nutrient exchange and the mycorrhizal

nutrient exchange and the mycorrhizal networks throughout the forest and how

networks throughout the forest and how

networks throughout the forest and how dominant trees act as a hub to

dominant trees act as a hub to

dominant trees act as a hub to facilitate regeneration of force after

facilitate regeneration of force after

facilitate regeneration of force after disturbance including harvesting we’re

disturbance including harvesting we’re

disturbance including harvesting we’re exploring silvicultural practices and

exploring silvicultural practices and

exploring silvicultural practices and regeneration along a climate gradient in

regeneration along a climate gradient in

regeneration along a climate gradient in the interior Douglas fir and this year

the interior Douglas fir and this year

the interior Douglas fir and this year we’re expanding to coastal forests so

we’re expanding to coastal forests so

we’re expanding to coastal forests so that we can evaluate better methods to

that we can evaluate better methods to

that we can evaluate better methods to harvest western red cedar my Simpson

harvest western red cedar my Simpson

harvest western red cedar my Simpson heritage teaches me about caring for the

heritage teaches me about caring for the

heritage teaches me about caring for the environment and as a scientist I have

environment and as a scientist I have

environment and as a scientist I have opportunities to demonstrate how

opportunities to demonstrate how

opportunities to demonstrate how ancestral knowledge systems resonate

ancestral knowledge systems resonate

ancestral knowledge systems resonate with science

with science

with science you also have ancient knowledge about an

you also have ancient knowledge about an

you also have ancient knowledge about an environment as part of your journey but

environment as part of your journey but

environment as part of your journey but the society has removed those

the society has removed those

the society has removed those connections this is my journey and it

connections this is my journey and it

connections this is my journey and it has brought me here to remind you of our

has brought me here to remind you of our

has brought me here to remind you of our connection to the natural world thank

connection to the natural world thank

connection to the natural world thank you

”

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