What is Alaska Plant Teachings?
The Essence of Alaska Plant Teachings:
Alaska Plant Teachings is designed to help us practice living in balance with ourselves and everything around us - spiritually, emotionally and culturally. Plant Teachings helps us remember that everything is interconnected. Our Ancestors left us a legacy of Indigenous values and strength through their knowledge, ceremony, language, stories, and arts. These gifts can help us to create harmony and balance in these difficult times.
The Toolkit Includes:
A book, plant teaching cards, a teacher activity guide, movement videos, infographics, posters, and coloring pages. The toolkit is relevant for early learners to elders and can be integrated into many educational settings including language and cultural programs, schools, and outdoor education. It is a natural fit for behavioral and tribal health programs including substance abuse, domestic violence, and recovery from trauma.
These Teachings Encourage Us To:
-
Harvest respectfully, giving thanks for the plants' gifts, and taking only what we need.
-
Recognize the intrinsic value of each plant, not only for human use, but as a dynamic being that is an essential part of an ecosystem.
-
Contribute to the health and well-being of the land through practices such as planting native species, restoring damaged areas, and advocating for the protection of natural habitats.
Toolkit Materials
Book : Alaska Edition
This 110 page full-color book features 24 Alaskan plants with descriptions, cultural teachings, stories, ecological relationships, and recipes; an overview of social-emotional skills, and a chapter on wild foods and medicines with respectful harvesting guidelines and methods for processing and preparation.
.png)
.png)
Teacher Guide
Those who take our teacher training gain access to this 110-page guide, which offers insights and activities for teaching social emotional skills. It also includes tips for adapting the toolkit to different ages and environments, teaching practices, and additional activities, stories, songs, recipes, and worksheets. To learn more about the teacher training click here.
.png)
.jpg)
Teacher Trainings and Adapting the Toolkit
We offer teacher trainings and partner with organizations and school districts to provide customized hands-on professional development for staff in adopting our resources. We also support tribal communities in adapting resources to the plants, stories, and traditions of their unique community. Email Naomi at njmichalsen@gmail.com for more information.
How to Access the Toolkit
The Plant Teachings Toolkit includes Alaska Native and Native American cultural knowledge, stories, and plant traditions. It is intended to support the movements for native sovereignty and cultural reclamation, as well as to encourage non-native communities to live more respectfully and sustainably in relation to the natural world. In order to protect this resource, we ask that you watch a short video, read the Respectful Harvest Guidelines, and complete the Plant Teachings Agreements and registration form. We invite you to become allies in caring for our plant relatives.
Note: The teacher activity guide and slideshows are solely available to people who take our 25+ hour teacher training.
Steps:
-
Enter your name and email. You will receive an email with links to the Kanas.éin: Respectful Harvesting Guideline video and the Respectful Harvest Guidelines document. These will ground you in some of the Alaska Native teachings around honoring and caring for plant communities.
-
Follow the link in the email to complete the Plant Teachings Agreements and registration form.
-
Once you have completed the agreements and registration, you will be invited into a shared Google folder with resources.
Enter your email
Contributors and Funders
Plant Teachings includes the voices of many Native Elders, cultural keepers, plant specialists, and mental health workers. To learn about the original Plant Teachings development team visit : https://www.nativeplantsandfoodsinstitute.com/plant-teachings/team
We would like to give special thanks to June O’Brien for her co-thinking on the Alaska version and the Kayaani Sisters Council including Trixie Bennett, Louise Brady, Eva Burk, Tia Holley, Naomi Michalsen, Gloria Simeon, Disney Williams, Kolene James and Ahlˈlidaaw Gitnackˈangeak for their contributions, as well as Bob Sam, Jennifer Nu, Kim Aspelund, Gary Ferguson, Corinne James, Wayne Price, Holly Churchill, Michele LaDuke, Kaia Michalsen, George Holly, and X̱ʼunei Lance Twitchell. Gratitude to the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples, and Haa Tooch Licheesh for supporting the development of the Alaska edition.
Position / Role
Jamie Lane
Describe the team member here. Write a brief description of their role and responsibilities, or a short bio with a background summary.
Position / Role
Max Johnson
Describe the team member here. Write a brief description of their role and responsibilities, or a short bio with a background summary.
Position / Role
Jesse Neimus
Describe the team member here. Write a brief description of their role and responsibilities, or a short bio with a background summary.
Position / Role
Drew Carlyle
Describe the team member here. Write a brief description of their role and responsibilities, or a short bio with a background summary.
Meet The Team
Learn More About Alaska Plant Teachings
For questions, guidance, or deeper insights into Alaska Plant Teachings, don't hesitate to reach out:
Contact: Naomi Michalsen
Email: njmichalsen@gmail.com
Why Choose Alaska Plant Teachings?
01
Alaska Plant Teachings is the rich, ancestral wisdom of the Tlingit people and other Indigenous cultures of Southeast Alaska.
This isn't just plant identification—it's a deep dive into centuries-old knowledge about how to live in harmony with the earth.
Our teachings offer insights that have been passed down through generations, blending traditional practices with modern sustainability.
Indigenous Knowledge
02
What sets us apart is our holistic approach to learning about plants.
We don't just focus on the practical uses of plants for food and medicine; we immerse you in the cultural, spiritual, and environmental significance of each plant.
This comprehensive perspective enriches your understanding and appreciation, connecting you not just to the plants themselves but to the entire ecosystem and its history.
Holistic Approach
03
Our programs are designed to get your hands dirty—literally.
From sustainable harvesting workshops to guided walks through the verdant forests of Southeast Alaska, we offer experiential learning opportunities that are as engaging as they are educational.
You'll come away with not only knowledge but also practical skills you can apply in your own life.
Hands-On Learning Experience
04
Alaska Plant Teachings is more than an educational platform—it's a community.
By participating you're joining a movement dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Alaska's Indigenous peoples.
We believe in building bridges between cultures, fostering a deeper understanding and respect for the traditions that have shaped this land.
Cultural Preservation
Goals of the Tool Kit
Enhancing Resilience and Well-being
Fostering Social-Emotional Growth: Increasing individual and community resilience through building social-emotional skills including mindfulness, self-awareness, coping with stress, building healthy relationships, and cultivating belonging.
Conservation and Ethical Engagement with Nature
Promoting Healthy Plant Ecosystems: Protecting and promoting healthy plant communities through education, ethical harvesting, and ecological restoration.
Deepening Connection to Environment and Community
Cultivating a Sense of Belonging: Increasing a sense of community, seasons, and place.
Valuing Indigenous Knowledge
Celebrating Indigenous Science and Wisdom: Promoting the value and significance of Indigenous Science and Native ways of knowing, doing, and being, including intergenerational and experiential learning, the transmission of knowledge through stories, and recognizing and building reciprocal relationships.
Plant Teachings for Growing Social-Emotional Skills – Alaska Edition
The gifts of the land are the legacy of those who came before us. – Kayaani Sisters Council
Through the stories and experiences of our Elders and Ancestors, we know that plants are among our very first teachers. Plants are our allies—each carrying unique wisdom and valuable teachings that can help us learn, grow, and heal. As we spend time building relationships with plants, we come to understand the depth of their wisdom, and we remember that we are interconnected with the land and each other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Alaska Plant Teachings is a program designed to share the rich botanical heritage of Southeast Alaska, focusing on the edible and medicinal plants native to the area. These teachings cover the traditional knowledge of the Indigenous peoples of Alaska, including sustainable harvesting practices, the medicinal uses of plants, and the cultural significance of the region's flora.
Absolutely anyone can participate! Our teachings are designed to be accessible to individuals of all backgrounds and levels of experience, from beginners to seasoned botanists. There’s no need for prior knowledge—just a curiosity and respect for nature and Indigenous cultures.
Participants will learn how to identify various native plants and understand their uses for food, medicine, and traditional practices. You’ll also gain insights into sustainable harvesting techniques, the cultural background of the plants, and how to incorporate this knowledge respectfully into your own practices.
We offer both online and in-person teachings. Our in-person sessions include walks and workshops in the beautiful landscapes of Southeast Alaska, while our online resources provide accessible learning opportunities for those who cannot join us physically.
You can sign up through our website, where you'll find a calendar of upcoming events and workshops. Simply choose the session that interests you and follow the registration instructions provided.
Some programs are offered free of charge, thanks to funding and donations. Others may have a fee to cover materials, instructor time, and other resources. We strive to keep costs low and offer scholarships to ensure accessibility.
Support can come in many forms, from participating in our programs to donations or volunteering. Sharing information about our teachings with your community and on social media also helps raise awareness of our mission.
We work closely with Indigenous communities and leaders to ensure that all teachings are presented with respect and consent. Our programs are designed to honor and preserve Indigenous knowledge, with a significant portion of proceeds going back to these communities to support their ongoing cultural and environmental efforts.
Feel free to contact us with the form below if you have more questions or need further information.
We're here to help and guide you on your journey with Alaska Plant Teachings.