Sierra Club Sierra Talks: Shared Heritage of the Californias
Kumeyaay Ethnobotany: Shared Heritage of the Californias. For thousands of years, the Kumeyaay have interacted with native plants and continuously refining their botanical knowledge. This presentation, based on the beautifully illustrated book, explores the remarkable interdependence between native peoples and native plants of the Californias. It connects the archaeological and historical record with living cultures and native plant specialists who share their ever-relevant wisdom for future generations. Today, many Kumeyaay Indians in the far-flung ranches of Baja California carry on the traditional knowledge and skills for transforming native plants into food, medicine, arts, tools, regalia, construction materials, and ceremonial items. The author and anthropologist Michael Wilken-Robertson, whose advocacy and applied research have allowed him to develop lifelong friendships with many Native Baja Californians, will share some of his experiences behind the book. His research and advocacy work with Native Baja Californians has explored traditional arts, ethnobotany, history, languages, and cultural landscapes of the indigenous peoples of the northern Baja California region. Michael currently teaches in the anthropology department at California State University, San Marcos. The event is free and open to the public. Free parking is below the Trader Joe's and Ralphs. For more information about the event or the San Diego Sierra Club chapter, please visit sandiegosierraclub.org.