Iwígara American Indian ethnobotanical traditions and science

Native ethnobotanical scholar Salmón, a Rarámuri (Tarahumara), continues his advocacy for environmental justice and Indigenous rights with this accessible plant guide, using science, medicine, and culturally specific knowledge from many Indigenous cultures. The Rarámuri concept of iwígara refers to the idea that all life is interconnected and related. The introductory chapter provides impressionistic sketches of seven geographical regions of Turtle Island (North America), giving a sense of place and the relationships the peoples of those places have with the land, animals, and plants that coexist there, and reinforcing the fact that Indigenous peoples have never been one homogenous culture. Each of the over 500 distinct cultures that existed prior to European colonization developed its own ecological knowledge, which still lives today among Indigenous communities. Salmón consulted with knowledge keepers from many of those communities to compile a list of 80 plants that are particularly culturally relevant. Plant entries include common and botanical names along with rich information about uses and traditional significance. Color photos of the plants and examples of the ways they are used bring the information to life.

Salmón (Eating the Landscape), head of California State University East Bay's Indian Studies program, provides a beautifully illustrated and philosophically uplifting guide to indigenous North American plant use. For background, Salmón delves into the spiritual beliefs of various cultures, including the Pueblo peoples of New Mexico and Arizona; the Cherokee, who once inhabited southeastern marshes; and his own people, the Rarámuri of Chihuahua, Mexico, originators of the "iwígara" concept "that all life, spiritual and physical, is interconnected in a continual cycle." The bulk of the text consists of a glossary of plants' traditional medicinal and ceremonial purposes. A particular highlight of this section consists of the perhaps surprising uses introduced for familiar species. The blueberry is a fine example of this, having been used to treat colic, fever, and varicose veins, and to improve night vision. Likewise, sugar maple trees can be used for more than syrup; their inner bark can also be used for "sore eyes and as a cough remedy." Salmón includes vintage botanical drawings, b&w historical photos of the people from the cultures discussed, and color photos of the plants. This lovely compendium will strike a chord with many a nature-loving reader. (Sept.)