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Arizona Ethnobotanical Research Association (AERA)
107 N. San Francisco St.
Suite #1
Flagstaff, AZ 86004
(928)774-2884
azethnobotany@hotmail.com
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Arizona Ethnobotanical Research Association (AERA) |
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About AERA
| Executive Director Phyllis Hogan Assistant Director Associate Director
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The Arizona Ethnobotanical Research Association (AERA) has been a non-profit scientific and educational organization since 1983. We were formed to investigate, document and promote the use of traditionally utilized plants of the southwest.
Ethnobotany is the study of the relationships between plants and people. It is a rapidly changing discipline that the AERA is practicing with these goals in mind:
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The AERA is a bioregional conservation organization working to investigate, document and promote the use of traditionally utilized plants of the Southwest and to preserve this knowledge for future generations. The AERA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1983.
ACTIVITIES AND PRESENTATIONS
April 11, 2003
AERA director Phyllis Hogan, assistant director Jill Dedera, and respected Hopi herbalist, Theodora Homewytewa, visited the Salvia pachyphylla (Blue Sage) site near Meteor Crater. This Salvia was featured in our 2003 newsletter. While conducting their studies, the trio came across an unusual plant in the Fabaceae (Pea) family. The plant was identified as Oxytropis oreophila var juniperina (Mountain Oxytrope) by botanists at Northern Arizona University and the location is a state record for this species! The plant had been collected near Meteor Crater previously, but was not identified as Oxytropis until recently.
Oxytropis oreophila var.juniperina
May 31, 2003
The Society for Economic Botany conducted their annual meeting in Arizona last year. The meetings were held in Tucson at the Sonoran Desert Museum. Pre-conference trips included a plant walk in the Grand Canyon. The walk was led by collections curator at the Desert Botanical Garden Wendy Hodgson, archaeologist Helen Fairly, and AERA director Phyllis Hogan. The trip participants experienced the immensity and grandeur of the Canyon while hiking down the Kaibab Trail. Many of the nearly 1,500 different species of plants were in bloom, making the walk a colorful and interesting event. A favorite of the group was the century plant (Agave parryi) with its magnificent inflorescences and folk lore. In addition, the group learned about the pre-Columbian and historic peoples who called the area home and the fascinating geological story that is so unique to the Grand Canyon.
June 14, 2003
AERA celebrated our 20th anniversary with a concert at the Coconino Center for the Arts with Bay Area band, The Flying Other Brothers with the legendary artist Pete Sears. Flagstaff’s own treasured band, Each Others’ Legend, hosted the benefit concert. Both bands generously donated all proceeds from T-shirts and CD sales.
July 9, 2003
AERA director Phyllis Hogan and assistant director Jill Dedera led 24 Navajo Nation health educators on a plant identification walk in Flagstaff at Buffalo Park. The plant walk was part of the group’s retreat entitled “United in Wisdom and Harmony.” Senior Health Educator Mae Wero, one of the event’s coordinators, said that the purpose of the conference was to give the Navajo health care workers a different perspective on health care. The group was introduced to stress relief exercises, a therapeutic massage, a visit to the Flagstaff Cancer Center, and a visit with a traditional Navajo Medicine Man. Participants of the walk were introduced to a variety of medicinal plants, as well as plants used for basketry and food. The plant list they received was created by Phyllis Hogan and botanist and AERA associate Lisa Machina and included 72 common or useful plant species found at Buffalo Park. The enthusiastic group discussed the ethics of wildcrafting and the importance of knowing each plant before collecting it.
September 21, 2003
AERA director Phyllis Hogan and botanist and AERA associate Lisa Machina led morning and afternoon “Fall Equinox Plant Walks” near Buffalo Park. The walks were open to the public and approximately 20 people participated in each walk. The participants learned identification of medicinal, food, and basketry plants as well as plants that are particularly important to southwest forested ecosystems. We discussed wildcrafting ethics, plant preparation methods, and forest restoration while we nibbled on some of fall fruits such as wax currant (Ribes cereum) and Woods’ rose (Rosa woodsii). National Public Radio reporter Gillian Ferris attended and recorded the afternoon walk for use in a piece she created on Phyllis Hogan and the AERA that aired in October, 2003. Phyllis and Lisa created the plant list for the walks which included 89 different species important to the Buffalo Park meadows and forests.
October 17-19, 2003
AERA Director Accepts Award
Phyllis Hogan was an invited guest and presenter in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the 16th annual American Herbalist Guild symposium Building Knowledge, Building Community. At the Banquet on Saturday night, herbalist and ethnobotanist David Winston presented Hogan with a $500 check and praised the work AERA had been doing for the past 20 years.“I am proud, on behalf of the American Herbalists Guild, to recognize and present this check to The Arizona Ethnobotanical Research Association on this, their 20th anniversary. I first came across their work many years ago and was thrilled to see that their focus was not purely of an academic nature, but recognizing the incredible importance of helping to preserve a culture. Too many ethnobotanists/anthropologists see native people as informants - someone to gain information from so they can get their masters or PhD. Phyllis Hogan and the AERA are primarily interested in developing long-term relationships with their indigenous neighbors, learning the culture and respect of the traditional ways and then preserving these teachings for Southwestern native people and others as well. We honor your dedication, commitment, and the good heart from which you do your work.”
November , 2003
Northern Arizona Archeological Society
Phyllis Hogan and the AERA have become renown for their research on Colorado Plateau plants and their use in ceremonies and for healing. In November Phyllis made a presentation on endangered plants that grow on archeological sites. Her slide presentation highlighted local archeological sites and some of the rare and cultural significant plants that AERA has been investigating.
ONGOING PROJECTS
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS