Nancy Turner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nancy Turner
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Turner in 2015
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Nancy Jean Turner
1947 (age 77–78) Berkeley, California, U.S.
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| Nationality | Canadian |
| Citizenship | Canada |
| Alma mater | University of British Columbia |
| Known for | compendium of aboriginal culture and plant lore in British Columbia |
| Awards | R.E. Schultes Award (1997) Order of British Columbia (1999) Canadian Botanical Association’s Lawson Medal (2002) William L. Brown Award (2008) Order of Canada (2009) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Ethnobiology Ethnobotany |
| Institutions | School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria; Department of Botany, University of British Columbia (adjunct) |
| Thesis | Plant taxonomic systems and ethnobotany of three contemporary Indian groups of the Pacific Northwest (Haida, Bella Coola, and Lillooet) (1973) |
Nancy Jean Turner (born in 1947) is a Canadian scientist. She is an ethnobiologist, which means she studies how people and nature interact. Nancy Turner is also a botanist, someone who studies plants. She has done a lot of research with the Indigenous peoples of British Columbia, Canada. She has written many books and articles about her discoveries.
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Early Life and Education
Nancy Turner was born in Berkeley, California, in 1947. When she was five years old, her family moved to British Columbia, Canada. She later earned her doctorate degree in Ethnobotany. This field combines the study of plants with the study of cultures.
Studying Indigenous Plant Knowledge
For her doctorate, Nancy Turner studied the plant knowledge of several Indigenous peoples in the Pacific North-West. These groups included the Bella Coola, Haida, and Lillooet communities. She learned from their elders, who are respected older members of the community.
Her research involved asking elders about the names of plants. She also learned how these plants were used. This included their uses for food, medicine, and materials. By comparing this information with scientific analysis, she made important discoveries.
Impact of Her Research
Nancy Turner's work shows how plants are important in Indigenous cultures. She also documented how Indigenous peoples have shaped the Canadian landscape over time. Her research helps us understand the deep connection between people and nature.
Recognitions and Awards
Nancy Turner has received many important awards for her work. These awards recognize her dedication to documenting and preserving Indigenous knowledge.
Order of British Columbia
In 1999, the Government of British Columbia honored Nancy Turner. They welcomed her into the Order of British Columbia. This is a very high award given to people who have made great contributions to the province.
The government described her as a distinguished scholar and scientist. They noted that she has spent her life recording the knowledge of First Nations. This knowledge is sometimes at risk of being lost.
Her research has focused on how First Peoples in British Columbia interacted with their natural environment. She highlighted the important role of plants for food, medicine, and other materials. Her work is seen as a very valuable collection of Indigenous culture and plant knowledge in British Columbia.
Other Major Distinctions
Nancy Turner has received several other significant awards:
- R.E. Schultes Award (1997)
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (1999)
- Canadian Botanical Association’s Lawson Medal (2002)
- Killam Research Fellowship (2007)
- William L. Brown Award for Excellence in Genetic Resource Conservation (2008)
- Order of Canada (2009)
