An Examination of the use of An Examination of the use of Image in Traditional Knowledge Image in Traditional Knowledge

Research with Northwestern Research with Northwestern Canadian First NationsCanadian First Nations

presented bypresented by

Leslie Main JohnsonLeslie Main Johnson

Athabasca UniversityAthabasca University

Images are used for:Images are used for:

elicitationelicitation

documentationdocumentation

communicationcommunication

photo used for elicitation of photo used for elicitation of landscape terms (Gitxsanimx)landscape terms (Gitxsanimx)

nemk’ap‘wiinamkxnemk’ap‘wiinamkx

The terms recorded are the Gyeets and Gigeenix dialect words for ‘high bank’.

archival photos are effective for archival photos are effective for elicitationelicitation

the line between elicitation and the line between elicitation and documentation is not always documentation is not always firm- especially with maps and firm- especially with maps and diagramsdiagrams

dzilh ggiz, dzilh dzilh ggiz, dzilh ïïggizggiz

mountain passmountain pass (lit. ‘between mountains’) (lit. ‘between mountains’)

Witsuwit’en term from Dan Michell 2005

elicitation from photo for linguistic documentationelicitation from photo for linguistic documentation

elicitation and documentation using a elicitation and documentation using a computer drawingcomputer drawing

map used for elicitation–land use data from Noel AndreTsiigehtchicAugust 1999

documentationdocumentation “vouchers”, photos of plants or places “process”- video or a series of shots

showing how something is done referents for linguistic terms events or people-in-place settings annotations of maps or photos used in

elicitation

““lookout”lookout”“voucher”- Kaska place kind

tletagi–lookout

atane trail

kocamp‘

another ‘lookout’–

image as voucher-blueberry Vaccinium uliginosumdahba

plant specimens as image and plant specimens as image and documentationdocumentation

documenting Gitksan documenting Gitksan snowshoe makingsnowshoe making

challenges of topic and method(how do you take a good illustration of a snowshoe in context?)

correlating text notes and images-original fieldnotes as typed into computer

Mary Teya snaring rabbitsMary Teya snaring rabbits

process–

video of process–video of process–stitching mocassinsstitching mocassins

QuickTime™ and aYUV420 codec decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aYUV420 codec decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Kaska elder Mida Donnessey 2003

formal, composed record of an event–Kaska Language Workshop at Blue River

photo Angela Wheelock July 2003

people in place–people in place–

Deline “Plants for Life” Project camp summer 2006

the camp at Russel Bay– Tsia

the camp at Russel Bay– Tsia

setting–“Plants for Life” Project 2005

maps as documentation

–sites of old camps and

recent moosekills

February 2000

data map compiled by Gitksanresearcher Art Loring

Art Loring presenting finished maps at GIS training session in Hazelton

Image in CommunicationImage in Communication

communication with academic audiencescommunication with academic audiencescommunication with and within communication with and within

communitycommunity

communication with “the public”communication with “the public”

Dinim Gyet’s Territory- berry patch locationDinim Gyet’s Territory- berry patch location

powerpoint slide for conference paper:

figure in journal article

from Economic Botany Vol. 46 1992

Poster for Poster for Deline Deline

“Plants “Plants for Life” for Life”

ProjectProject

Photos Marni Amirault, poster design Chia Yueh Jean

image used evocatively on local traditional knowledge book cover

photo Leslie Main Johnson; book layout Marie-Anick Elie

When you are picking raspberries, look out for bears. The name the Pelly people have for raspberries, dech&ue dzâdze;&, means “porcupine berry”. Raspberries get ripe in August

Elder Lorna Reid picking raspberries 2001

raspberriesdahka;dle;& or dech&ue dzâde;& Rubus idaeus

42

illustration in a Kaska plant knowledge book for community and school use

photo and layout of draft book by LM Johnson

representation of two kinds of rabbit snare set by local artist Arthur Mitchell for Gwich’in school book

Gwich’in Teaching and Learning Centre, Ft. McPherson 1996

multimedia website multimedia website focussing on traditional focussing on traditional

knowledgeknowledge

QuestionsQuestionsHow are the images I produce read by the

communities I work with? by non-local audiences?

What are the implicit messages [or baggage] of images I or others use? What about context?

Does use of image supplant or transform the knowledge it purports to document?

Does or can recording of traditional knowledge through image serve the communities from which it comes?

Thanks to–the many people in a variety of communities with

whom I have used image and produced images and videos especially Art Mathews Jr, Pat and Lucy Namox, Olive Ryan, Pete Muldoe, Beverley Anderson, Mida Donnessey, Leda Jules, Mary and William Teya, Alestine Andre and Bertha Francis

the colleagues with whom I’ve had fruitful discussions about these issues, particularly Chris Fletcher, Craig Campbell, and Alestine Andre

the various funders who have made my work possible [NNADAP, Canadian Circumpolar Institute, SSHRC, Jacobs Foundation, Athabasca Research Fund, Gwich’in Renewable Resource Board]