Blog
Saffron: Medicine, Tradition, and the Women Who Sustain Its Ancient Knowledge
May 4, 2026
A look at the medicinal power of saffron, its deep history across Persia, Ayurveda, and Unani traditions, and the vital role of women whose ancestral knowledge sustains its cultivation.
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Mapping Epistemological Scales
April 24, 2026
This post examines the distinctions between traditional, tribal, and Indigenous epistemologies, highlighting how each system is shaped by context, governance, and responsibility. Clarifying these differences supports more ethical, precise, and respectful engagement with Indigenous knowledge systems.
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Naming Knowledge with Care
April 21, 2026
This post clarifies how terms like Indigenous, Indigenous Knowledges, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) are used across research and practice. By distinguishing between them, it highlights how language shapes recognition, responsibility, and the ethical engagement of knowledge systems.
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Indigenous Knowledge and the Politics of Naming
April 17, 2026
Indigenous knowledge systems are increasingly recognized across research and policy, yet the language used to describe them remains fragmented and imprecise. This post explores how conceptual ambiguity shapes the way Indigenous knowledge is understood, engaged, and often misrepresented, and why clarity is essential for ethical, accountable research.
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Feathers of Wisdom
April 14, 2026
This post introduces the review of the book “Feathers of Wisdom: Words and Art Illuminating the Legends and Myths of Indigenous Women Throughout the Ages”. The review explores a collaborative work by Leigh Podgorski and Kait Matthews that brings together storytelling, historical context, and original artwork to present legends of Indigenous women from across the Americas and Oceania.
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Emita. Healing Hands, Cleansing Hands: An Unexpected Farewell
April 8, 2026
This post introduces the article “Emita. Healing Hands, Cleansing Hands: An Unexpected Farewell,” a tribute to Ema, a forest healer whose life and work were rooted in plant medicine and spiritual ritual. Through narrative, drawings, and poetry by Randy Chung Gonzales and Lucas Nakandacare, the piece reflects on the relationship between mentor and apprentice and the quiet transmission of healing knowledge through lived experience.
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Revitalizing Kichwa Midwifery
April 1, 2026
This post introduces the article “Revitalizing Kichwa Midwifery: Medicinal Plant Knowledge for Pregnant Women in San Martín, Peru” by Conzuelo Tapullima de Tuanama Tuanama and Laura Corradi. Centering the teachings of Kichwa midwife Mamá Conzuelo, the article explores ancestral plant knowledge, pregnancy care, and the enduring role of Indigenous midwives in sustaining community health and cultural continuity.
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