2010 Conference Logo

The logo for the 33^rd Annual Meeting of the Society of Ethnobiology was generously donated for the event’s use by K^waxsistalla, Clan Chief Adam Dick and was created by his nephew, Chief George Shaughnessy and Verna Barker. The artists hold the copyright to the specific design and K^waxsistalla owns the cultural and IP rights to the dance and all its uses. The design is the Grouse dancer, the principle character of the Atla’gimma or Spirits of the Forests Dance Complex. K^waxsistalla inherited the Atla’gimma from his father’s side through Chief Pasa’lathl of Wuikinuxv (Rivers Inlet). Only four sets of Atla’gimma dances came out of Wuikinuxv generations ago and today’s owners are K^waxsistalla, Chief Richard Johnson, the Mountain and Webber families.

Our conference theme, “The Meeting Place” is well represented by the Grouse and the other Atla’gimma spirits who gather in the ceremonial “bighouse” to share in the song of sacred interactions that keep the forest ecosystem alive. Just as each Atla’gimma character has their own dance, every ethnobiologist has their own discipline and interests. But, the synergisms of shared knowledge, like the magic of each Atla’gimma spirit dancing to the same music, is far more powerful than the sum of the parts. At our conference, we will “integrate ethnobiological knowledge” by embracing the many different ways of knowing, teaching, and learning about the complex relationship between humans and the natural world, and in doing so, discover a brighter reflection in the eyes of our colleagues.