Au cœur du bouleau (Betula spp.) et de la conservation en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Québec, Canada)

The forestry industry is crucial to the economy of Canada and Quebec in particular, which contributes significantly to this sector. Birches (Betula spp.) are the most important deciduous species in the Quebec region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, where the Anishinabe peoples play a role in managing this...

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Main Authors: Michel Rapinski, Alain Cuerrier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Laboratoire Éco-anthropologie et Ethnobiologie 2024-12-01
Series:Revue d'ethnoécologie
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/ethnoecologie/10987
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author Michel Rapinski
Alain Cuerrier
author_facet Michel Rapinski
Alain Cuerrier
author_sort Michel Rapinski
collection DOAJ
description The forestry industry is crucial to the economy of Canada and Quebec in particular, which contributes significantly to this sector. Birches (Betula spp.) are the most important deciduous species in the Quebec region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, where the Anishinabe peoples play a role in managing this resource. However, management and land use conflicts arise around a fundamental question: « Which forest specie(s) are we managing? » If the answers provided by the forestry industry and Indigenous peoples are not necessarily in harmony with each other, the importance given to them necessitates a reflection grounded in an anthropology of the environment and conservation that ultimately answers the questions: « Why name? » and « Why classify? » Indeed, the botanical classifications of birches in North America are complex and controversial, and the forestry industry often does not consider the distinction between certain species, such as the paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marshall) and the heartleaf birch (Betula cordifolia Regel), as economically relevant. However, a review of birch nomenclature by Peoples of the Algonquian linguistic family reveals a fine distinction between birches based on morphological, environmental, and/or functional criteria. These criteria fit into classification logics that do not strictly mirror the classifications of botanists or foresters. Nevertheless, they are essential for preserving and transmitting the ancestral knowledge and practices of the Algonquian peoples. Thus, their consideration is important for mutualizing the management and the conservation of the environment, with the preservation of the cultural heritage of the peoples who depend on it.
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spelling doaj-art-48b9d8dbd4b14f0a8189a80583145ae02025-02-05T16:25:27ZengLaboratoire Éco-anthropologie et EthnobiologieRevue d'ethnoécologie2267-24192024-12-012610.4000/138hsAu cœur du bouleau (Betula spp.) et de la conservation en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Québec, Canada)Michel RapinskiAlain CuerrierThe forestry industry is crucial to the economy of Canada and Quebec in particular, which contributes significantly to this sector. Birches (Betula spp.) are the most important deciduous species in the Quebec region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, where the Anishinabe peoples play a role in managing this resource. However, management and land use conflicts arise around a fundamental question: « Which forest specie(s) are we managing? » If the answers provided by the forestry industry and Indigenous peoples are not necessarily in harmony with each other, the importance given to them necessitates a reflection grounded in an anthropology of the environment and conservation that ultimately answers the questions: « Why name? » and « Why classify? » Indeed, the botanical classifications of birches in North America are complex and controversial, and the forestry industry often does not consider the distinction between certain species, such as the paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marshall) and the heartleaf birch (Betula cordifolia Regel), as economically relevant. However, a review of birch nomenclature by Peoples of the Algonquian linguistic family reveals a fine distinction between birches based on morphological, environmental, and/or functional criteria. These criteria fit into classification logics that do not strictly mirror the classifications of botanists or foresters. Nevertheless, they are essential for preserving and transmitting the ancestral knowledge and practices of the Algonquian peoples. Thus, their consideration is important for mutualizing the management and the conservation of the environment, with the preservation of the cultural heritage of the peoples who depend on it.https://journals.openedition.org/ethnoecologie/10987ethnobotanyBetula spp.BetulaceaeclassificationAnishinabeAlgonquian linguistic familly
spellingShingle Michel Rapinski
Alain Cuerrier
Au cœur du bouleau (Betula spp.) et de la conservation en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Québec, Canada)
Revue d'ethnoécologie
ethnobotany
Betula spp.
Betulaceae
classification
Anishinabe
Algonquian linguistic familly
title Au cœur du bouleau (Betula spp.) et de la conservation en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Québec, Canada)
title_full Au cœur du bouleau (Betula spp.) et de la conservation en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Québec, Canada)
title_fullStr Au cœur du bouleau (Betula spp.) et de la conservation en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Québec, Canada)
title_full_unstemmed Au cœur du bouleau (Betula spp.) et de la conservation en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Québec, Canada)
title_short Au cœur du bouleau (Betula spp.) et de la conservation en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Québec, Canada)
title_sort au coeur du bouleau betula spp et de la conservation en abitibi temiscamingue quebec canada
topic ethnobotany
Betula spp.
Betulaceae
classification
Anishinabe
Algonquian linguistic familly
url https://journals.openedition.org/ethnoecologie/10987
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