Ancient Pathways, Ancestral Knowledge

Nancy J. Turner is Distinguished Professor and Hakai Professor in Ethnoecology in the School of Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria.

"This magisterial work - exploring the deep, abiding, and ever-evolving relationships between plants and indigenous peoples - is monumental in its scope and depth. It is authoritative, accessible, full of wonderful anecdotes and stories, and will interest scholars of North American anthropology, geography, botany, and ecology, as well as general readers." Thomas F. Thornton, Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford "Nancy Turner's books are vital repositories of botanical and cultural lore, but more essentially they are road maps to wonder. Ancient Pathways, Ancestral Knowledge is clearly her opus, the culmination of more than five decades of research and insight. It is a book that will live on to fire the hearts of generations of scholars and explorers." Wade Davis, author of Light at the Edge of the World: A Journey Through the Realm of Vanishing Cultures "Written from a deep love and respect for both people and plants, and an obvious desire for global human cooperation in the face of environmental planetary peril, Turner's message, through over 1000 pages, is simple: "We have to find ways to look after each other." Amy Reiswig, FOCUS "Ancient Pathways, Ancestral Knowledge will be an instant classic. It is far more than an ethnobotanical or ecological study of a region in North America. This volume includes both, but they are incorporated into a theoretical structure that will be the methodological basis for all future efforts that attempt a regional overview. It is not just one or two theoretical stances to organize the material, but multiple inter-woven approaches that give this book uniqueness and exceptional importance." Richard I. Ford, Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan"Ancient Pathways, Ancestral Knowledge is a metaphorical betrothal that begins to unveil the wonder and mysteries of Indigenous knowledge and wisdom such that, if embraced by the wonders and mysteries of Western knowledge and wisdom, it may launch humanity into a future characterized both by oneness and infinite diversity - hisukis cawaak, everything is one." E. Richard Atleo, author of Principles of Tsawalk: An Indigenous Approach to Global Crisis"This two-volume set combines the testimonies of indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest with archaeology and history to produce a record of cultural memory for this population. Numerous testimonials are from interviews with remaining Native peoples, supplemented with much evidence from scientific and historical sources. In this style, Turner keeps the memories and plants of the Pacific Northwest peoples alive. Highly Recommended." Choice "In this colossal work, Turner combines ethnobotany, comparative linguistics, and anthropology to create a compelling account of the interchange not only of different indigenous groups in their horticultural practices, but also in their linguistic and belief structures, to reveal the complexities of these societies in their ecological relations." Publishers Weekly "Turner's two volumes are, in my opinion, a true magnum opus, not only illustrating the strength of a multidisciplinary approach to ethnobiological data, but also through providing a new and more nuanced understanding of the natural and cultural worlds of Northwest Coast peoples. The author's botanical training and years of experience have allowed her to develop in-depth data of a very special kind. The narrative, which privileges Indigenous voices beautifully, illustrates the knowledge and principles that are its foci, and makes for very enjoyable reading. The ample illustrations provide a clear sense of the people, the region, and the work's context. Turner's control and use of the broader literature is amazing. The data compilations alone are of tremendous value, and, coupled with her approach and insights, should make this work stand for decades and beyond as a monumental work in ethnobiology, ethnoecology, and anthropology." Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute