Nancy J. Turner

A world leader in the field of plant knowledge and traditional plant use by First Nations in western North America, Turner holds a BSc in Biology (1969) from the University of Victoria, and a Ph.D. in Ethnobotany (1974) from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Over the past 40 years, she has been working closely with B.C. First Nations to document their knowledge and uses of plants. In recent years, she has delved into ethnoecology, a broader field of study, which looks at the linkages between ecosystems and social systems. Turner is the author of 24 books including Plants of Haida Gwaii (2004; recipient of the Governor General’s award for Non-Fiction) and The Earth’s Blanket: Traditional Teachings for Sustainable Living (2005). Her many honours include: the fifth William L. Brown Award for Excellence in Genetic Resource Conservation (2008), a Killam Research Fellowship (2007-09); the UVic Craigdarroch Gold Medal for Career Achievement in Research (2006). In 2009, Turner has been awarded Canada’s highest civilian honour for lifetime achievement, the Order of Canada, for her contributions to the field of ethnobotany, and notably for her leadership in documenting the traditions of Aboriginal peoples.

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