Luschiim Arvid Charlie and Nancy J. Turner win the 2022 Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize
Luschiim Arvid Charlie and Nancy J. Turner have won the 2022 Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize for their book, Luschiim’s Plants: Traditional Indigenous Foods, Materials and Medicine (Harbour Publishing, $29.95). The prize is awarded to the author(s) of the book which contributes the most to the enjoyment and understanding of British Columbia and/or Yukon.
Luschiim’s Plants: Traditional Indigenous Foods, Materials and Medicine represents the dedication of respected Cowichan Tribe Elder and botanical expert, Luschiim Arvid Charlie, to the survival of the Hul′q′umi′num′ language and traditional knowledge of plants for future generations. From the healing properties of qaanlhp (arbutus) to the many practical applications of q’am (bull kelp), the information presented in this remarkable guide shares knowledge of plants that Luschiim is familiar with through his own Elders’ teachings and by way of direct experience over the course of his lifetime and compiled from field outings and interviews with notable ethnobiologist and botanist Nancy J. Turner.
Dr. Luschiim Arvid Charlie was born in Quamichan, one of the Cowichan Villages, in 1942 and has lived in the Duncan, BC, area all of his life. From the age of three, he began learning about plants and their various uses from the Elders in his family. Since then, he has made it a personal priority to gather knowledge about the natural environment. In 2007, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters degree at Malaspina University-College in recognition of his extensive contributions to the teaching of Coast Salish culture and traditions in a wide range of contexts, as well as his commitment to the protection of the environment and preservation of the Hul′q′umi′num′ language.
Nancy J. Turner is an ethnobotanist and Professor Emeritus at the School of Environmental Studies, at the University of Victoria. She has worked with First Nations elders and cultural specialists in northwestern North America for over 50 years, helping to document, retain and promote their traditional knowledge of plants and environments, including Indigenous foods, materials and traditional medicines. She has authored, edited, co-authored or co-edited over 30 books, including Plants of Haida Gwaii; and received a number of awards for her work, including membership in Order of British Columbia (1999) and the Order of Canada (2009).
About the Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize: The BC and Yukon Book Prizes, established in 1985, celebrate the achievements of British Columbia and Yukon writers, illustrators and publishers. Their mission is to recognize and promote the achievements of the book community in BC and Yukon through the BC and Yukon Book Prizes and related programs.
The Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize is awarded to the author(s) of the book which contributes the most to the enjoyment and understanding of British Columbia and/or Yukon. The book must be original and may deal with any aspect of the province and/or territory.