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Karen Brooks, Part 1 |
2021-02-31_PT.1 |
Ethnobotany, Ethnomedicine and Traditional Healing |
Karen Brooks was interviewed on December 30, 2021 by her daughter, Jennifer Andrulli, in Soldotna, Alaska. In this first part of a four part interview, Karen talks about her family background and childhood, learning about traditional plant use, gathering and medicine, and combining traditional practices with modern medicine. She also talks about her personal connection to plants, her plant gathering and processing techniques, and medicinal uses for arnica and artemisia.
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Karen Brooks, Part 2 |
2021-02-31_PT.2 |
Ethnobotany, Ethnomedicine and Traditional Healing |
This is a continuation of the interview with Karen Brooks on December 30, 2021 by her daughter, Jennifer Andrulli, in Soldotna, Alaska. In this second part of a four part interview, Karen continues to talk about the harvesting, processing and use of plants for traditional medicine. She describes how she makes oils, essences and tinctures from nettles, artemisia, sundew, and cottonwood buds, and their medicinal uses, and discusses the deep spiritual relationship between humans and plants. Karen shares her personal journey of discovering her Yup'ik heritage and drumming as a way to enter the spirit world and communicate with the past and with plants.
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Karen Brooks, Part 3 |
2021-02-31_PT.3 |
Ethnobotany, Ethnomedicine and Traditional Healing |
This is the continuation of an interview with Karen Brooks by her daughter, Jennifer Andrulli, in Soldotna, Alaska. This session occurred on December 31, 2021. In this third part of a four part interview, Karen continues to talk about her work as a traditional healer who combines traditional Native plant medicine with western medicine. She discusses the importance of traditional medicine and proper plant identification, her personal journey of healing coming from a family greatly effected by cultural upheaval and suppression, and how Yup'ik drumming provided her connection to ancestors, traditional spiritualism, and understanding of plants. Karen also talks about sovereignty, self-determination, and Native leadership.
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Karen Brooks, Part 4 |
2021-02-31_PT.4 |
Ethnobotany, Ethnomedicine and Traditional Healing |
This is the continuation of an interview with Karen Brooks on December 31, 2021 by her daughter, Jennifer Andrulli, in Soldotna, Alaska. In this fourth part of a four part interview, Karen continues to talk about the use of plants as traditional medicine. She discusses the importance of developing a respectful relationship with plants, asking permission before picking, only harvesting what you need, and leaving a gift of thanks. She also talks about being careful to know and understand the plants and their powers, how medicine people have special plants that they use, and the importance of learning from Elders.
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Naomi Michalsen |
2021-02-37 |
Ethnobotany, Ethnomedicine and Traditional Healing |
Naomi Kaasei Michalsen was interviewed on February 17, 2023 by Jennifer (Jen) Andrulli via Zoom. Naomi was in Ketchikan, Alaska and Jen was in La Tigra, Costa Rica. In this interview, Naomi talks about her work with traditional plant use. She talks about the Kaayani Sisters Council and their Respectful Harvesting Guidelines. She also talks about developing classroom curriculum about plants, the importance of access for plant collecting, the connection between people and plants, and uses of specific plants such as cedar, Labrador tea, and stinging nettles. Naomi closes the interview by reading a poem about cedar written by her daughter.
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Meda DeWitt |
2021-02-34 |
Ethnobotany, Ethnomedicine and Traditional Healing |
Meda DeWitt was interviewed on October 28, 2022 by Jennifer "Jen" Andrulli via Zoom. Meda was in Anchorage, Alaska and Jen was in Soldotna, Alaska. In this interview, Meda talks about her work as a traditional healer and the plants she uses. She also discusses the impacts of colonization on Alaska Native cultural systems, in particular that of traditional medicine and traditional healers. She also discusses the importance of understanding Indigenous language terms and perspectives, traditional agricultural methods, and transplanting of indigenous plants.
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Kim Aspelund |
2021-02-35 |
Ethnobotany, Ethnomedicine and Traditional Healing |
Kim Aspelund was interviewed on November 3, 2022 by Jennifer Andrulli via Zoom. Kim was in Palmer, Alaska and Jennifer was in Soldotna, Alaska. In this interview, Kim talks about harvesting and using local plants for Native traditional foods and medicine, including how she uses specific plants. She shares her experience learning about plants and how important it is for her to continue to share this knowledge. She emphasizes the importance of balance and approaching the gathering and processing of plants with the correct energy and attitude. She also comments on the combination of Western science with traditional Native practices.
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Eva Burk |
2021-02-36 |
Ethnobotany, Ethnomedicine and Traditional Healing |
Eva Dawn Burk was interviewed on January 18, 2023 by Jennifer Andrulli via Zoom. Eva was in Nenana, Alaska and Jennifer was in La Tigra, Costa Rica. In this interview, Eva talks about her work on food security and food sovereignty in Nenana, including the promotion of Indigenous agriculture, gardening, and the use of traditional plants for food and medicine. She talks about working with Elders and a multi-generational team and the importance of re-building a relationship with the land, plants, and animals. She also discusses the State of Alaska's Nenana-Totchaket Agriculture Project and its impact to traditional lands, lifestyle, and resources.
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