Exploring Indigenous Plants with Cottonwood School
In Spring 2021, we worked with 3rd grade students at Cottonwood School of Civics and Science to on an education and design project to create the “Exploring Indigenous Plants in the Portland Area” Map and Resource Guide. This consulting and design project included classroom workshops with the students on map making and botanical drawing, and was supported by additional lessons and guidance about content and plant selections by Indigenous educators Clifton Bruno (Wasco) and Christine Bruno (Comanche, Basque, Irish, and English).
The final project focuses on selection of plants naturally occurring in the area since time immemorial and includes information about their importance in the food and cultural traditions of the Indigenous peoples of this place. The project also features an student art gallery of drawings that emerged through botanical drawing lessons.
This project was supported by a grant from the Gray Family Foundation.