Mitchell Center to host talk on how Indigenous knowledge can restore traditional sweetgrass harvesting Nov. 14
The Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions at the University of Maine will host a talk titled “Wabanaki plant gathering in Acadia National Park: Mobilizing Indigenous Knowledge to restore traditional sweetgrass harvesting” at 3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14.
In this talk, Suzanne Greenlaw, a Ph.D. student with the UMaine School of Forest Resources, will discuss the Indigenous research methodology and participatory action research approach to facilitate sweetgrass gathering in Acadia National Park.
Greenlaw is a citizen of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and an ethnobotanist focused on mobilizing Indigenous Knowledge and cultural practices to address cultural resource issues such as reduced access, invasive species planning and loss of traditional food sources. She currently co-leads a project that facilitates the development of plant gathering agreements between the Wabanaki Nations and Acadia National Park. This interdisciplinary work focuses on Wabanaki stewardship approaches and cultural protocols to assert Indigenous sovereignty within natural resource management. Greenlaw’s research aims to provide a template of culturally appropriate engagement between Native American gatherers and national parks.
All talks in the Mitchell Center’s Sustainability Talks series are free and are offered both remotely via Zoom and in person at 107 Norman Smith Hall. Registration is required to attend remotely. To register and receive connection information, visit the event webpage.
Please note that face coverings are required for all persons attending Mitchell Center Sustainability Talks.
Updates for this event will be posted to the event webpage. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Ruth Hallsworth, 207.581.3196; hallsworth@maine.edu.