154 - Two-Eyed Seeing with Dr. Cristina Eisenberg

YourForest

Content provided by Matthew Kristoff. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Matthew Kristoff or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://staging.podcastplayer.com/legal.

8M ago

MP3•Episode home

In this episode of YourForest Podcast, host Matthew Kristoff engages with Dr. Cristina Eisenberg to explore the powerful concept of "Two-Eyed Seeing." This approach braids Indigenous knowledge with Western science to create more resilient, climate-adapted forests.
Dr. Eisenberg shares her experiences and insights from the report "Braiding Indigenous and Western Knowledge for Climate Adapted Forests," which she co-authored. The discussion delves into climate change, forest stewardship, and how Indigenous ecological practices can help create the future of sustainable forest stewardship.
Here are the 5 Key Recommendations of the “Braiding Sweetgrass Report”:
- Adopt proactive stewardship.
- Recognize and respect Tribal Sovereignty and Indigenous Knowledge.
- Provide the flexibility to steward dynamic landscapes and navigate uncertainties under rapidly changing conditions.
- Ground agency planning, and land and resource stewardship policies in ethics of reciprocity and responsibility to many future human generations.
- Catalyze innovative approaches to forest stewardship.
Dr. Cristina Eisenberg is an Associate Dean at Oregon State University, specializing in tribal initiatives and climate resilience. As a community ecologist with Māori and Western Apache heritage, she combines Indigenous and Western knowledge to address environmental challenges.
Dr. Eisenberg and Matthew dive into the concept of "Two-Eyed Seeing" and how it can reshape forest stewardship. They discuss the importance of cultural burning, proactive management, and Indigenous sovereignty, all of which are central to creating climate-resilient landscapes. The episode highlights the benefits of using both Indigenous ecological practices and modern environmental strategies to steward the land for future generations.

Key Takeaways:
- Two-Eyed Seeing: This concept involves viewing the world through both Western science and Indigenous knowledge, leading to more holistic and effective forest management strategies.
- Proactive Stewardship: Dr. Eisenberg emphasizes the need for proactive, place-based stewardship that prioritizes forest resilience, especially in the face of climate change.

- Reciprocity with Nature: Indigenous ecological practices are based on reciprocity, where humans take from nature mindfully and give back to maintain balance.
- Recognizing and Respecting Sovereignty: It is crucial to respect tribal sovereignty and involve Indigenous communities in decision-making processes for forest management.
- Healing from Past Harms: Acknowledging historical trauma caused by colonization and implementing Indigenous-led approaches to restore ecosystems.
Resources:

Dr. Cristina Eisenberg’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eisenberg-cristina-phd-7b153b26/
BraidingSweetgrassReport: https://depts.washington.edu/flame/mature_forests/pdfs/BraidingSweetgrassReport.pdf
The Wise Path Forward: https://adaptiveforeststewardship.org/who-we-are/

Sponsors
West Fraser - https://www.westfraser.com/
GreenLink Forestry Inc. - http://greenlinkforestry.com/

Quotes:

[00:19:25] Dr. Cristina Eisenberg: "Two-eyed seeing is when one eye views the world through Indigenous knowledge and the other through Western science. Together, they form binocular vision."
[00:12:28] Dr. Cristina Eisenberg: "We did damage to these forests by eliminating cultural burning, not understanding the long-term impacts."
[00:59:41] Dr. Cristina Eisenberg: "Reciprocity means we take what we need, but we give back more to the forest. It’s about caring for nature the way you care for family."

Timestamps and Illustrations:

(00:00:15) The Importance of Fire in Indigenous Stewardship
(00:18:57) Reciprocity: The Foundation of Indigenous Practices
(00:26:53) Two-Eyed Seeing: A Holistic Approach to Knowledge
(00:30:46) The Role of Elders and Tribal Knowledge in Stewardship
(00:36:28) Proactive Stewardship vs. Reactive Management
(00:54:27) Acknowledging Indigenous Sovereignty in Land Management
(01:00:18) Historical Trauma and Forest Stewardship
(01:15:47) Cultural Burning and Ecosystem Health
(01:22:31) The Future of Forest Stewardship: Learning by Doing

Follow YourForest Podcast on:
Website: https://yourforestpodcast.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@yourforestpodcast7324
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourforestpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourforestpodcast/?hl=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yourforestpodcast/
Twitter: https://x.com/yourforestpdcst/
Email: [email protected]

If you liked this podcast, please rate and review it on your favorite platform! 🌟

161 episodes

#Matthew Kristoff #Natural Sciences #Environment #Science #Geology