“A Caretaker Responsibility”: Revisiting Klamath and Modoc Traditions of Plant Community Management

Deur, Douglas

doi:10.2993/0278-0771-29.2.296

Cited by 18 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…In the course of our research on the Northwest Coast, elders have sometimes described traditional limits on fishing duration and quantity of catch based on thresholds that might Boffend^the fish and cause them to not return abundantly (Deur 2009;Langdon 2007;Chief Adam Dick, pers. comm.…”

Section: Transplantation As An Exemplar Of Salmon Cultivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cultivation in this light is not merely a practical enhancement technique, harvest strategy, or an aspect of tenure or world view, though it often involves these dimensions of human culture. Rather, cultivation is an integrated paradigm of relating physically, socially, spiritually to non-human species and their habitats of interest to humans (Deur 2009;Turner and Berkes 2006).…”

Section: Sustainability Through Cultivation and Social Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cultivation of Salmon and other Marine Resources on the Northwest Coast of North America

Thornton

Deur

Kitka³

2015

Hum Ecol

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We present evidence for cultivation of marine resources among aboriginal peoples of the Northwest Coast of North America. While such evidence has been marshalled for plant cultivation, we argue that similar cultivation techniques developed around salmon and other critical marine resources of which they had intimate knowledge, and that such interventions helped regularize supplies, ameliorate disruptions, accommodate shifts, and even reverse declines in species populations by recreating or strengthening conditions for sustaining species in dynamic ecological systems. The plants, fish, and wildlife of the region were resilient, and often pre-adapted to cyclic or stochastic disturbance regimes, but, like the aboriginal populations themselves, also vulnerable to environmental shocks and scarcities. We suggest that Northwest Coast indigenous people observed the effects of both gradual and rapid environmental change on key species over generations, and adjusted their behavior accordingly. The effects of human enhancement, human over-exploitation, or natural perturbations were often rapidly apprehended, allowing for feedback mechanisms that became integral to the technologies and social mechanisms for resource management. These practices are best conceptualized as cultivation techniques rather than restrictive conservation practices, designed to optimise resource supplies and harvest conditions, thus reducing risk and vulnerability and increasing social-ecological resilience.

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Section: Transplantation As An Exemplar Of Salmon Cultivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sustainability Through Cultivation and Social Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cultivation of Salmon and other Marine Resources on the Northwest Coast of North America

Thornton

Deur

Kitka³

2015

Hum Ecol

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“…Before European contact, the Klamath and Modoc Tribes of Southern Oregon and Northeastern California took an active role in the management of various plant communities. Deur (2009) identifies multiple and complex plant management strategies utilized by the Klamath and Modoc people that are consistent with modern definitions of plant cultivation. Some of these practices included "the management of black huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum) yields in subalpine environments, the management of marsh-edge environments for yellow pond lily (Nuphar polysepalum), the tending of "epos" or yampah (Perideridia species) digging sites, and the selective harvest of tree cambium, sap, and woodespecially from pines (Pinus species) and junipers (Juniperus species)" (Deur 2009, p. 296).…”

Section: Interactions In Tribal Land Use and Government Land Managementmentioning

confidence: 85%

Northeastern California plateaus bioregion science synthesis

Dumroese¹,

Moser²

2020

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The Northeastern California Plateaus Bioregion Science Synthesis reviews literature relevant to the ecology and management of the Great Basin ecosystems and dry pine forests of the Lassen and Modoc National Forests. Critical factors on these national forests are reduced water availability-expected to become more challenging as levels and patterns of precipitation and temperature change under climate variability-coupled with a high proportion of rangeland and open woodland whose vegetation community is influenced by grazing of livestock and wild animal populations. Conifer encroachment of rangelands and the densification of woodlands, a result of fire suppression, impact wildlife communities that rely on open woodlands and other habitats characterized by having overstories of low density. Sagebrush habitat, in particular, is threatened by fragmentation and conversion. Socioeconomic changes in the region include a transition in the economic base from extraction to that of consumption of amenity values, and the resulting fragmentation of landownership. The local human population is expected to continue its trend of decline, but increased pressure by recreationists from nearby expanding urban areas is forcing land managers to consider increasingly complex situations or actions integrating social, ecological, and economic factors. Indigenous peoples are assuming a greater role in the management of their lands. Finally, disturbance patterns, such as nonhistorical fire frequency and intensity levels, novel combinations of climate patterns, and the pervasive pressure of nonnative invasive species could result in future ecosystems different than those today, presenting additional managerial challenges. This synthesis is intended to serve as a science-based foundation that supports management of Northeastern California forests, woodlands, and rangelands.

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“…Low‐intensity fires have been widely used by Indigenous Peoples in the United States and Canada to steward the health and production of berries and berrying habitat (e.g., forest edges and openings and meadows and grasslands) (Christianson et al, 2022; Mucioki et al, 2024, 2022), particularly for Vaccinium and Rubus species (Deur, 2009; Gottesfeld, 1994; Long et al, 2021; Turner, 1999). Today, fire is being used to restore berry habitat.…”

Section: Responding To Environmental Change With Berry Stewardshipmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate and land‐use change impacts on cultural use berries: Considerations for mitigative stewardship

Mucioki

2024

Plants People Planet

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Societal Impact StatementCultural use berries are prized foods and medicines across the United States and Canada, with almost 200 different species used by Indigenous Peoples. Berries are increasingly being impacted by environmental and land‐use change. Berry habitats, how and when berry plants reproduce, and the volume of berries available for harvest each year are shifting widely. These changes are impacting access to, availability of, and consumption of berries. Biocultural stewardship practices, like low‐intensity fire, transplanting, and thinning, can be used in response to these stressors to support berry plant health and productivity as well as a sustained relationship with this important food.SummaryAlmost 200 different species of berries are used for food and medicine by Indigenous Peoples, with unparalleled nutritional and cultural significance among plant foods. Environmental and land‐use change is increasingly compromising access to, availability of, and consumption of berries. In this review, I consider (a) how climate and land‐use change are impacting cultural use berries across species and places, as documented by Indigenous Peoples and in the scientific literature, and (b) how stewardship practices are being applied to promote resilience and sustainability in berrying landscapes experiencing stress. Climate impacts on Arctic and subarctic berry species include earlier ripening, changes in taste, or increased variability in abundance. These same regions are experiencing a proliferation of shrubs, while forests throughout the lower 48 and Canada are suffering from suffocating fuel loads and stand densities that are not conducive to berry habitat for many species. In the Pacific West, berries are influenced by prolonged droughts and increasing spring and summer temperatures. Climate change impacts are amplified by shifts in land use for forestry and agriculture. Biocultural stewardship practices, like low‐intensity fire, thinning, transplanting, and cultural care, can be used to mitigate these impacts and promote berry microclimate habitats. There is opportunity for intertribal networking and knowledge sharing around berry stewardship practices that will support local and regional climate change responses.

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“A Caretaker Responsibility”: Revisiting Klamath and Modoc Traditions of Plant Community Management

Cited by 18 publications

References 14 publications

Cultivation of Salmon and other Marine Resources on the Northwest Coast of North America

Cultivation of Salmon and other Marine Resources on the Northwest Coast of North America

Northeastern California plateaus bioregion science synthesis

Climate and land‐use change impacts on cultural use berries: Considerations for mitigative stewardship

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