Spring Bank Ethnobotany

Throughout the past 3 weeks I have been on ethnobotanical journey that has fueled a greater appreciation for land, knowledge, usages of species and the plants themselves. With little insight I was unsure of the importance of ethnobotany, which has now shifted into a spark to continue learning the extensive amount of knowledge surrounding ethnobotanical practices. We, as a common society, have separated from the natural world. We view uncultivated landscapes as waste, focus nature to change instead of us being proactive and modifying it with traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and we do not participate in our ecosystems. It is evident that through conversations, interactions, stewardship and development with traditional ecological knowledge, we will be able to have a collective society practicing as citizens and not consumers.

In modern culture we are continually hearing about stories of destruction whether its oil spills, pollution, land disturbance, deforestation of which the list goes on.

It is integrated into society to focus on the short immediate fixes rather than focusing on what the future consequences could be. Nancy Turner evaluates the destruction of spring bank clover at Clover Point due to species being “intentionally and unintentionally diminished” resulting from unrecognition of the value of springbank clover. Turner continues to display that those who would directly feel the loss of the clover were not able to voice their concern to individuals that were causing the drastic changes (Turner). As a result, spring bank clover is no longer found at Clover Point. The loss of spring bank clover has not only been destructive but it demonstrates that we have not maintained knowledge and the skills needed to sustainably support the resource (Hamersley Chambers, Lecture, 2016). The loss of a key indicator species not only has biological impacts but cultural losses that are still being noted by First Nations who remember what the land was previously like. Tsilalchach/ Songhies Chief sheds light on the loss of the Fort Vancouver which relates to spring bank clover “We and our forefathers

have lived in happiness upon this island for many ages before the existence of these strangers… is that now to be taken away from us?” (F. Hemersley Chambers Lecture, 2016). I was fortunate enough to nibble on the last noted patch of spring bank clover on clover point for the first time in hundreds of years. I gained appreciation for valued land and felt the sadness of the loss of such an important species. I took that experience and translated it back to the UVic campus. My perception of campus has been shifted to have a higher connection and appreciation with my surroundings. Reflecting back, I now can acknowledge a fraction of what the First Nations feel when their valued land is transformed. I would feel discouraged and a loss of sense of place if a new building or parking lot was put on what I now feel is valued land on campus.