Incorporating Biocultural Approaches in Forest Management: Insights from a Case Study of Indigenous Plant Stewardship in Maine, USA and New Brunswick, Canada

Abstract

Biocultural approaches promote consideration of diverse values and cultural practices into resource management. However, cultural inclusion in North American forest management is limited. Drawing on a case study of Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq communities in Maine, USA and New Brunswick, Canada, we examine the practice of plant gathering, including associated values and cultural norms. Through interviews and participant observation, we find that gatherers value and care for plants and habitats that are not priorities for forest managers. Gatherers do not describe their actions in terms of management, with its connotations of dominance and control. Rather, they are guided by community-driven values and responsibilities. Our analysis suggests that their plant gathering activities align with a stewardship paradigm, which may be one useful way to characterize, legitimize and communicate approaches to caring for forests. We offer five suggestions for managers wishing to use biocultural approaches.

Keywords:

• Culturally significant plants
• forest stewardship
• Indigenous knowledge
• Mi’kmaq
• Wolastoqiyik

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq plant gatherers and knowledge holders whose participation and support made this work possible. We deeply thank community researchers Solomon “Rocky” Bear and Rhonda Ireland who were invaluable to this work. With much appreciation to John Dennis, Cultural Director of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs and Sue Young, Natural Resources Director of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians for facilitating this collaboration. Thank you also to Sue for providing an insightful review of this manuscript. David and JoAnne Putnam of the University of Maine, Presque Isle offered helpful suggestions throughout the development of this study. We also thank the three anonymous reviewers whose thoughtful suggestions have strengthened this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a grant from the Northeastern States Research Cooperative, project title Guidelines for Incorporating Biocultural Diversity into Northern Forest Resources Management.