Spokane Indigenous Ethnobotany Place-based Curriculum Project - The Spokane Indigenous Ethnobotany Place-based Curriculum Project by the Spokane Tribe of Indians Reservation is a three-year initiative which aims to develop a comprehensive curriculum focused on traditional plant knowledge and language. The project will document 120 plants within the tribe's original territories, capturing detailed information about their locations, uses, and cultural significance. Each plant will be photographed during three growth stages and GPS-mapped. The project will create 240 culturally specific lessons organized into four categories: medicinal, edible, ceremonial, and utilitarian plants. These lessons will serve students at the Back to the Heart School and Wellpinit School through classroom instruction and field experiences. A dedicated website and database will be developed to make this information easily available to language teachers and students. The project includes creating detailed documentation of plant names in both Spokane and English, along with scientific classifications, traditional uses, and harvesting practices. The initiative involves collaboration between language staff, tribal elders, and students, incorporating traditional knowledge with modern educational methods. The final deliverables will include a comprehensive database, educational curriculum, and preparation of materials for future publication. This project represents a structured effort to preserve and transmit traditional plant knowledge while creating practical educational resources for future generations.
