Conversation Guide: Rooted in the Land- Ethnobotany in Alaska
This conversation guide was developed in partnership with Alaska Humanities Forum and their Kindling Conversations Program.
It explores the question: What can we learn from the plants around us to strengthen our connection to each other and the land? in connection with the film Rooted in the Land- Ethnobotany in Alaska by Anchorage educator Alexis Griffee.
This documentary unveils the fascinating world of ethnobotany, exploring the profound relationship between Indigenous cultures and the plants that sustain them. Prepare to be captivated as we delve into the heart of Alaska’s ecosystem, where science and culture intertwine to reveal the secrets of the natural world. This film was created at See Stories’ Professional Development Retreat for Educators in Homer Alaska, in June 2024 as part of the Digital Storytelling as a Culturally Responsive Teaching Tool course.
Classroom Guide
Essential Questions
- How do Alaska Native peoples traditionally use and manage plant species, and how does this knowledge contribute to modern scientific understanding of ecosystems?
- What are the ecological roles of native Alaskan plants, and how can understanding these roles inform sustainable environmental practices?
- How does the relationship between humans and plants reflect broader principles of interdependence and sustainability in both traditional and scientific contexts?
- What scientific methods can we use to study native plant species, and how do these methods align with or differ from Alaska Native observational practices and land stewardship?
- How can we best use/leverage technology to document these connections and preserve both scientific information and Alaskan Native ways of knowing?