154 - Two-Eyed Seeing with Dr. Cristina Eisenberg

In this episode of YourForest Podcast, host Matthew Kristoff engages with Dr. Cristina Eisenberg to explore the powerful concept of "Two-Eyed Seeing." This approach braids Indigenous knowledge with Western science to create more resilient, climate-adapted forests.

Dr. Eisenberg shares her experiences and insights from the report "Braiding Indigenous and Western Knowledge for Climate Adapted Forests," which she co-authored. The discussion delves into climate change, forest stewardship, and how Indigenous ecological practices can help create the future of sustainable forest stewardship.

Here are the 5 Key Recommendations of the “Braiding Sweetgrass Report”:
- Adopt proactive stewardship.
- Recognize and respect Tribal Sovereignty and Indigenous Knowledge.
- Provide the flexibility to steward dynamic landscapes and navigate uncertainties under rapidly changing conditions.
- Ground agency planning, and land and resource stewardship policies in ethics of reciprocity and responsibility to many future human generations.
- Catalyze innovative approaches to forest stewardship.

Dr. Cristina Eisenberg is an Associate Dean at Oregon State University, specializing in tribal initiatives and climate resilience. As a community ecologist with Māori and Western Apache heritage, she combines Indigenous and Western knowledge to address environmental challenges.

Dr. Eisenberg and Matthew dive into the concept of "Two-Eyed Seeing" and how it can reshape forest stewardship. They discuss the importance of cultural burning, proactive management, and Indigenous sovereignty, all of which are central to creating climate-resilient landscapes. The episode highlights the benefits of using both Indigenous ecological practices and modern environmental strategies to steward the land for future generations. 

Key Takeaways:
- Two-Eyed Seeing: This concept involves viewing the world through both Western science and Indigenous knowledge, leading to more holistic and effective forest management strategies.

- Proactive Stewardship: Dr. Eisenberg emphasizes the need for proactive, place-based stewardship that prioritizes forest resilience, especially in the face of climate change.

- Reciprocity with Nature: Indigenous ecological practices are based on reciprocity, where humans take from nature mindfully and give back to maintain balance.

- Recognizing and Respecting Sovereignty: It is crucial to respect tribal sovereignty and involve Indigenous communities in decision-making processes for forest management.

- Healing from Past Harms: Acknowledging historical trauma caused by colonization and implementing Indigenous-led approaches to restore ecosystems.

Resources:

Dr. Cristina Eisenberg’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eisenberg-cristina-phd-7b153b26/
BraidingSweetgrassReport: https://depts.washington.edu/flame/mature_forests/pdfs/BraidingSweetgrassReport.pdf
The Wise Path Forward: https://adaptiveforeststewardship.org/who-we-are/

Sponsors

West Fraser - https://www.westfraser.com/
GreenLink Forestry Inc. - http://greenlinkforestry.com/

Quotes:

[00:19:25] Dr. Cristina Eisenberg: "Two-eyed seeing is when one eye views the world through Indigenous knowledge and the other through Western science. Together, they form binocular vision."

[00:12:28] Dr. Cristina Eisenberg: "We did damage to these forests by eliminating cultural burning, not understanding the long-term impacts."

[00:59:41] Dr. Cristina Eisenberg: "Reciprocity means we take what we need, but we give back more to the forest. It’s about caring for nature the way you care for family."

Timestamps and Illustrations:

(00:00:15) The Importance of Fire in Indigenous Stewardship

(00:18:57) Reciprocity: The Foundation of Indigenous Practices

(00:26:53) Two-Eyed Seeing: A Holistic Approach to Knowledge

(00:30:46) The Role of Elders and Tribal Knowledge in Stewardship

(00:36:28) Proactive Stewardship vs. Reactive Management

(00:54:27) Acknowledging Indigenous Sovereignty in Land Management 

(01:00:18) Historical Trauma and Forest Stewardship

(01:15:47) Cultural Burning and Ecosystem Heal