Indigenous knowledge and practices are finally getting some respect. Western scientists have viewed indigenous knowledge as not scientific, but in fact many tribal practices evolved from generations of observation and experimentation.
So California just turned over management of coastal land to a coalition of five Native American tribes.
Five California tribes will reclaim their right to manage coastal land significant to their history under a first-in-the-nation program backed with $3.6 million in state money.
The tribes will rely on their traditional knowledge to protect more than 200 miles of coastline in the state, as climate change and human activity have impacted the vast area.
Some of the tribes’ work will include monitoring salmon after the removal of a century-old defunct dam in the redwood forests in the Santa Cruz mountains and testing for toxins in shellfish, while also educating future generations on traditional practices.
https://apnews.com/article/f3a37f53129ef43ffd60f9b58506247b
The alliance is called the Tribal Marine Stewards Network.
According to their website, they see their purpose as not only to protect the environment but also to enhance their economy and cultural vitality.
Darcy Hitchcock 
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