22 April 2020
Daylight, plants and traditional knowledge
Keamu islanders Orien Namu (left) and Chris Nevehev with a “Walking Sun” figure they have drawn in the sand.
(Photo by K. David Harrison)
(Photo by K. David Harrison)
At our last Annual Conference, botanist Michael J. Balick and linguist K. David Harrison gave a brilliant keynote speech on the central role of daylight and plants in traditional societies. While the cycle of day and night determines their rhythm of life, plants are carefully observed and used as calendar, for example for agricultural practices. Together with their colleague Gregory M. Plunkett, both scientists have now posted an article that summarises their keynote presentation “Indigenous Perspectives on Daylight and Nature”.