Ethnobotany and TEK
Plants have been used by First Peoples for millennia to meet nutritional, medical, technological and spiritual needs. Traditional ecological knowledge (T.E.K.) and traditional resource management practices offer valuable insights and important templates for sustainability and the conservation of biological diversity. We have worked with First Nations to document and promote this knowledge.
Selected Projects:
University of Victoria Continuing Studies (Victoria, BC). 2017. "Turning Culture into Cool: An Indigenous Approach to Ecotourism." Orford Bay and Campbell River, B.C. (Preparing tour guides to disseminate traditional knowledge and develop non-timber forest products for sale to clients.)
BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Skeena Region (Smithers, BC). 2017. "Protocols Applicable to Monitoring the Sustainability of Medicinal Plants in the Upper Skeena Drainage."
University of Victoria Continuing Studies (Victoria, BC). 2016. "Rediscovering Traditions of the Homalco First Nation" – Intensive 7-day Certificate Course, Campbell River and Orford Bay, B.C. (Preparing tour guides to disseminate traditional knowledge to clients.)
University of Northern British Columbia (Prince George, BC). 2016 – Sessional Instructor, Biology 350 "Ethnobotany", with sections in Terrace, Hazelton, Smithers and Prince George.
Homalco First Nation (Campbell River, BC). 2015. Instructor, Homalco First Nation: "Introduction to Ethnobotany" – non-credit intensive weekend course, Campbell River, B.C. (offered to members of the Homalco First Nation).
Cornerstone Planning Group (Victoria, BC). 2015. "An Overview of Gitxsan Ethnography, Archaeology and Traditional Resource Use with Specific Reference to Haakakxw and Duubisxw House Territories." (under contract to Pacific Northern Gas).
Burton, C.M. 2015. "A Literature Review of the Ethnography and Traditional Plant Use of the Haisla First Nation and Four Communities of the Tsimshian First Nations: Kitselas, Kitsumkalulm, Lax Kwa’laams & Metlakatla." Prepared for BC Hydro, Burnaby, B.C.
University of Victoria (Victoria, B.C.), 2006-2012. "Ethnobotany of the Nisga'a First Nation"
Tmixw Research (Merritt, B.C.), 2002. "Distribution, Site Suitability and Productivity of Black Huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum) within Nlekepmx Traditional Picking Grounds in the Merritt TSA"
McMaster University, Department of Anthropology, Hamilton, Ontario, 2001-2002, "A Reference Collection of Northwestern Fruit Seeds"
Fort Nelson First Nation (Fort Nelson, B.C.), 2000, "Landscape Level Analysis of Forest Development Plans in the Fontas River Valley"
B.C. Ministry of Forests, Kispiox Forest District (Hazelton, B.C.), 1999-2000, "Exploring Options for the Management of Wild Berries: Phase One of a Pilot Project Focusing on the Suskwa River Area"
Science Council of B.C./Forest Renewal B.C. (Burnaby, B.C.), 1996-1998, "Inferring the Response of Berry-Producing Shrubs to Partial Cutting in the ICHmc"
Forest Renewal B.C., Skeena-Bulkley Region (Smithers, B.C.), 1998, "Stakeholder Workshop and Detailed Workplan for Researching Wild Mushroom Management Alternatives in Northwestern B.C."
Selected Reports & Publications:
Burton, C.M. L.M. Ciariello, S. O'Connor, and H.M. Roessler. 2017. Turning Culture into Cool: An Indigenous Approach to Ecotourism. Poster presented at the Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Portland, Oregon, 6-11 August, 2017.
Burton, C.M., and P.J. Burton. 2015. Recovery of Oplopanax horridus (Sm.) Miq., an important ethnobotanical resource, after clearcut logging in northwestern British Columbia. Ethnobotany Research & Applications 14: 1-15. DOI: 10.17348/era.14.0.1-15
Turner, N.J., C.M. Burton, and J. van Eijk. 2014. Plants in language and classification among B.C. First Nations. BC Studies 183:135-138.
Burton C.M. 2012. Wilaat Hooxhl Nisga’ahl Ýans: Gik’uuhl-gi, Guuń-sa ganhl Angoogaḿ -- Using Plants the Nisga’a Way: Past, Present and Future Use. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. 349 p.
Winder, R., and P. Burton. 2009. More than trees: How silviculture intersects with mushrooms, berries, and other botanical products. Silviculture Magazine (Fall 2009):4-8.
Burton, P. 2006. Managing for wild berries. Pages 114 to 121 in W. Cocksedge, compiler. Incorporating Non-Timber Forest Products into Sustainable Forest Management: An Overview for Forest Managers. Centre for Non-Timber Resources, Royal Roads University, Victoria, B.C.
Burton, P.J., and C.M. Burton. 2000. The Wilp Sa Maa'y Harvesting Co-operative and wild berry research in Gitxsan traditional territory. Pages 15 to 17 in D. Gayton, editor and compiler. Non-Timber Forest Products Workshop, Creston, B.C., May 24, 2000, Report and Recommendations. Southern Interior Forest Extension and Research Partnership, Kamloops, B.C.
Burton, C. 1999. Starting a non-timber forest products enterprise: the Wilp Sa Maa'y Harvesting Co-operative. Ecoforestry 14(4):20-23.
Burton, P.J. 1995. A cultural perspective on a widespread plant genus. [book review of “The Birch in Life and Legend”] The Canadian Botanical Association Bulletin 28(2):26.