Traditional Knowledge at the White River Valley Museum and Mary Olson Farm
By Rachael McAlister, Museum and Farm Director
Traditional knowledge (TK) is knowledge and skills passed down from generation to generation, forming the identity of a cultural group, community, or family.
In the United States TK is most often associated with the deep-rooted, invaluable wisdom and traditions of indigenous peoples. TK is what kept the earliest European colonists in America from starving and what saved the Denny party from freezing their fannies off on Alki, leading them to instead settle on the eastern shore of Denny Bay. Traditional Knowledge is the bedrock of Native culture and the lessons learned from TK preserve health, wellbeing, the land, and heritage.
Traditional knowledge is an understanding of the world that you receive outside of a classroom; lessons learned from elders and from experiences. TK appears in life skills that don’t exactly fit into modern scientific practice, like knowing honey can be used as an antiseptic or the ability to navigate by the stars. In TK the lessons are often received from the natural world.
Students Exploring TK: Sea to Stream at the Farm
At the Farm, nature is our teacher. Each fall every 8th grader in the Auburn School District visits the Mary Olson Farm for Sea to Stream Week. Sea to Stream Week is a partnership between the Farm, the Environmental Science Center, and Muckleshoot educators. During the week students dive into the world of salmon. They observe salmon spawning in Olson stream, conduct field research, and even dissect a fish. Alongside these contemporary science lessons, students engage with traditional knowledge. They learn about historic and modern native fishing practices and explore the gifts of the nettle plant through making nettle cordage and drinking nettle tea.
“Nettle is covered in stinging hairs that are covered in formic acid. If we are careful, we can avoid the sting, but if we are not, we can get stung. The nettle teaches us to pay attention and protect ourselves. The reason the nettle is covered in stinging hairs is because it’s such good medicine — so high in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and chlorophyll — it would get mowed-down by elk or other grazing animals.”
Interestedin learning more about Traditional Knowledge? Check out these following events!
Feeding Sovereignty
Sunday, Oct. 20, 1–4 p.m. Auburn Community and Events Center
Ages 13+ | $75 per person
Space is limited and registration is required
Listen, explore, sip, and savor Coast Salish heritage.
We welcome Muckleshoot knowledge keepers for a delicious afternoon of nutritious native foods. You will learn about indigenous foodways and native stewardship of our region. Participants will enjoy hands-on cooking demonstrations, a delectable tasting menu, and bring home recipes with a dash of reciprocity.
Salmonfest at the Mary Olson Farm
Saturday, Nov. 23, Noon-2 p.m. Family-friendly, Free event!
You don’t have to be an eighth grader to be interested in traditional ways of knowing and field science at the Farm. Salmonfest is our public open day of Sea to Stream exploration featuring stations led by the Environmental Science Center, Mary Olson Farm, and Native educators. The event is rain or shine with hopefully a salmon sighting or two.
