Ethnobotonist and educator, Dr. Enrique Salmón is from the Rarámuri (Tarahumara) tribe of northwestern Mexico. Having dedicated his studies to ethnobotony and traditional ecological knowledge, Salmón feels Indigenous cultural concepts of the natural world are only part of a complex and sophisticated understanding of landscapes and biocultural diversity. Dr. Salmon will present an illuminating journey through the southwestern United States and northern Mexico in his presentation, weaving history and cultural knowledge with stories and experiences he has shared with American Indian farmers, Salmon will illustrate how traditional Indigenous food ways are rooted in a time-honored understanding of environmental stewardship.

This speech was given at the 2012 Indigenous Forum, co-produced with the Cultural Conservatory, at the Bioneers National Conference.