Native Science Quiz

 

1. What direction is the wind from today?
   What kind of cloud cover is there?
   What does that tell you about the weather for the next 24 hours?

2. What phase is the moon in? Is it waxing or waning? Give at least 2 ways you can tell.
   What planets and constellations are in the evening sky? Draw a picture of their location and orientation relative to either the northern or southern horizon.

3. Name at least 5 uncultivated edible plants you might expect to find within 500 yards of where you are right now. Draw a rough outline of what they look like. Where would you look for each?

4. What tracks or animal sign have you seen this morning? What did they tell you?

5. What direction is due north from where you sit?
   Mark a dot representing due east on your paper and show where the sun rose today relative to that point.

6. If you were lost and very thirsty is the woods, how would you find safe water to drink?

 

What does this have to do with the WETCC science and Extension activities?  Native Science is about Awareness.

This includes awareness of:

The earth (rocks, soil, water, seasons)
The sky (weather, sun, moon, stars)
The plants (as teachers, elders, providers)
The animals (as teachers, elders, providers)
In other words, our neighborhood and all our neighbors.
Why do Indigenous people have this level of awareness?

Our response at WETCC

We are working to reconnect people to land through:
Our science courses
The Indigenous Gardener Program
The Indigenous Crops Research Program
The Local Foods Challenge
Wild Foods Summit
Tracking Summit Camps