by Shalan Joudry, Mi’kmaw Ecologist
Region of Eastern North America termed the “Acadian Forest” or the “Acadian Ecozone”. Photo courtesy of the Nature Conservancy
As a Mi’kmaw ecologist, or “Two-eyed seeing” ecologist, I’m very aware of our human and ancestral relationships as part of ecosystems. I am always asking how our ancestors of long ago affected the plant and animal communities. Some of these lifeways that affect an ecosystem can be things like: compost piles in long-term encampments, transplanting certain plants (for food or medicine) that the people wanted close by or along their usual travel routes and burning areas (such as grass, shrub or berries). Every species that ancestors harvested, how they created travel routes, and made camps all became part of the ecosystem they lived within.
As the human development footpr ...
Tags: Fetured
