New exhibit at CWU museum celebrates Indigenous knowledge, Western science

Overcoming centuries of environmental and cultural challenges can make for unexpected partnerships that result in extraordinary outcomes.

A new exhibit on display at Central Washington University’s Museum of Culture and Environment this winter explores the knowledge of native peoples and cutting-edge western science, providing insight into how humans can improve our relationship with the natural world.

Roots of Wisdom: Native Knowledge, Shared Science — which opens Saturday, January 18 — shares how four native cultures are improving the world using their traditional knowledge in conjunction with modern science and technology.

Now more than ever, populations across the globe face serious challenges meeting basic human needs in maintaining sustainable food supplies, clean drinking water and healthy communities. The Roots of Wisdom exhibition shares the stories of four indigenous communities by offering visitors inspiring, real life examples of how complementary solutions to ecological and health challenges are being applied to improve our world.

Through the voices of elders and youth, storytelling, hands-on interactives, multimedia and graphics, visitors will learn about everything from restoring ecosystems to rediscovering traditional foods and crafts by diverse native groups.

This cross-culturally developed exhibit highlights the Tulalip Tribes’ wild harvesting and gardening; traditional stewardship of the lamprey eel by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation; restoring fish ponds and Native Hawaiian ecosystems; and how the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are re-establishing a native plant and teaching traditional basket weaving to a new generation. 

Roots of Wisdom was designed for ages 9-14, but can be enjoyed by everyone. The intent of the exhibit is to help visitors understand the important issues facing Indigenous communities, discover innovative ways native peoples are solving challenges, and strengthen the growing movement towards sustainability and the reclamation of age-old practices.

The exhibition was developed by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), the Indigenous Education Institute (IEI), the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Tulalip Tribes, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the Waikalua Loko Fishpond Preservation Society in Hawaii. It was made possible through funds from the National Science Foundation.

The CWU Museum of Culture and Environment would like to invite the CWU community and members of the public to an opening event for Roots of Wisdom on Thursday, January 23, at 5:30 p.m. Attendees will have a chance to see the new exhibit as well as join museum staff and CWU students and faculty in recognizing Indigenous communities.

The exhibit will be on display from January 18 through May 3. The CWU Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For questions or more information, museum@cwu.edu.