Aboriginal Taxonomy
Aboriginal cultures from around the globe have many different ways of organizing and naming plants, some of which are very different from that of modern botanical classifications. Our research program investigates the nomenclature and classification of plants by aboriginal cultures from around the world. We investigate the classification processes of different cultures and try to understand common patterns and mechanisms for biological classification including links to our molecular plant identification research program. Current cultures included in our program are:

• Forest People (Irulas-Dravidian) of SE India – (Ragupathy, Newmaster)
• Anishinaabe (Ojibway) – (Newmaster & Lacroix)
• Cree – (Newmaster)
• Metis – (Newmaster)
• Algonquin – (Lacroix, Newmaster)
• Hill Tribes of Northern Thailand – (Newmaster; Ethnobotany Intern)
• Inuit of Nunavit (Newmaster, Lacroix, Ragupathy)

Aboriginal Repository of Knowledge (ARK)
ARK is a collection of voucher specimens and their associated traditional knowledge from aboriginal collectors around the globe. Our team of aboriginal collectors and botanists work together in order to bridge traditional knowledge with science and provide a safe vessel (ARK) to carry this knowledge into the future. We are also developing an international exchange program with other Herbaria housing aboriginal collections. The collection is housed in a set of special cabinets, with a dedicated database (linked to FOIBIS) within the OAC Herbarium at the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario.

Herbal Research & Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP)
We are investigating the diversity of herbal products and foods within native ecosystems using aboriginal knowledge as a catalyst for research. We are also developing a protocol for the molecular identification of herbal products at various stages of industrial production as part of our molecular identification research program. A broader vision bridges the obvious strengths of agriculture, botany, ecology, biochemistry, molecular biology, environmental biology, and economics at the University of Guelph. There is an immediate demand for NTFP research at the species and product level. This research begins at the population level and addresses questions concerning the viability of harvesting a native plant population and/or if we can propagate this plant in an agricultural setting. Experimental research will elude the environmental requirements for each plant that encourages the most desirable biochemical product. The final step is to address natural resource economics and policies associated with each NTFP. Each NTFP may serve as viable business case for small-scale entrepreneurs or larger ventures with First Nations and pharmaceutical companies.

You can get involved by supporting 1) botanical apprenticeships 2) projects such as the Flora Ontario, or the detection invasive species 3) research in ethnobotany or biodiversity, or 4) community projects. Please contact Dr. Steven Newmaster for details if you wish to join our research team by supporting one of our biodiversity projects.