2012 Zaagkii Project: Ethnobotanist Scott Herron Pt. 1 Ecological, Cultural & Spiritual Restoration
Channel: ZaagkiiTV
Date: 2012-06-19

Ferris State University Biology Prof. Dr. Scott Herron says:

But one thing that the Anishinaabe community must learn "if we are going to do restoration of the Earth" is:

"At the same time you do ecological restoration -- you need to do cultural and spiritual restoration," Herron said.

"Without understanding a little bit about yourself and a little bit about the spirit world, you will be missing a significant part about the physical world."

Here are portions of the talk Dr. Herron gave at the Hannahville Indian Community in April 2012 during a workshop entitled "Kinomaagewin-Aki: Teachings from the Earth."

Representatives from five Anishinaabe communities in northern Michigan and Wisconsin attended the workshop.

Hannahville Indian School students planted apple and cedar saplings following the Zaagkii Wings and Seeds Project workshop.

A biology professor at Ferris State University, Herron, PhD., is an ethnobotanist and Zaagkii Project consultant with northern Michigan tribes about pollinator protection and the restoration of native plants.

The U.S. Forest Service is a principal funder of the Zaagkii Project.

"Without understanding a little bit about yourself and a little bit about the spirit world, you will be missing a significant part about the physical world."

"And if you don't like the more cosmological view of things -- even some of our most brilliant scientists like

"What is important is -- one of those amazing things that we have here in the Great Lakes region -- is we have cultures and communities that still have some -- not all -- but some of those original teachings that come from the Earth, that come from the water, that come from the sky -- and that are still within us."

"We have a context for how to live and dance -- with the Earth Mother and the Sky Father -- and all our relations."

"Are most of us doing that?"
"No not at all."

"You have heard an amazing part of -- just an honorable set of stories from Earl (Meshigaud) that has kind of helped us look and remember - that if we walk along that medicine wheel - that when things were in balance -- and that loop was completely connected."

"Even in some communities and in some individuals -- that loop was intact -- one generation ago -- two generations ago -- three generations ago," Herron said while forming his fingers into a circle.

"It's really, really hard for each of us to see that hoop (and) for it to be intact today -- (because) we live in a global economy.

"We live in a world where you know - I think I am an ecologist -- and my academic training in many things -- I think of the Biosphere.

But, have we extended that?

Are there people living in space outside of the Earth?

How long?

How comfortable?"

"Some people think that the excuse would be that we can screw over the planet -- we can screw over our Earth -- because we can just be like Star Trekkers, Star Wars -- and just go another place."

"I don't know about you -- but my ass is staying here," Herron said causing the crowd to laugh and agree.

"I am a product of the Earth and of the water and the skies," Herron said gesturing upward.

Herron cited the children's story "Nanabosho and the Cranberries" that is about the highbush cranberry that grow along water - and the Native American trickster/teacher Nanabosho, whose name has many different spellings.

"Nanabosho learned by trial by error, that you can look in the mirror -- and sometimes if that mirror is water will give you a reflection, but sometimes that reflection is not exactly reality."

"Or you see what you want to see and sometimes you see what you need to see -- and sometimes you see what has not yet to come."

Herron suggested that interested tribes contact the federal government about renaming the Hiawatha National Forest to Nanaboozhoo National Forest.

"We're having conversations about the Hiawatha forest and Hiawatha."

"I still think that we still need to work with our U.S. Forest Service to maybe -- you know -- take that name back" of the Hiawatha National Forest and change it to:
"Nanaboozhoo National Forest
Nanaboozhoo National Park"
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Zaagkii Project
http://wingsandseeds.org
www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5353195.pdf

Nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute
Marquette, MI
www.CedarTreeInstitute.org
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Dr. Scott Herron
231-591-2087
herrons@ferris.edu
PhD., Biology Professor at Ferris State University
Coordinator of the Biology Education Program including the Wild Rice Ethnobiology Lab
www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/colleges/artsands/Biological-Sciences/faculty-staff/Scott-Herron.htm
www.ferris.edu
231-591-2000
231-591-2618 (fax)
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Author Joseph McLellan:
joe_mclellan@hotmail.com
www.joemclellan.ca
www.myspace.com/joemclellanofficial
www.myspace.com/joemclellanofficial/radio

"Nanabosho and the Cranberries"
By Joe and Matrine McLellan
Illustrations by Lloyd Swampy
Pemmican Publications (1998)
www.joemclellan.ca/books.htm