Grant program funds Indigenous forest research in the Northeast

When trying to find the best ash tree for basket weaving, scientist John Daigle said ash harvesters will closely examine a tree's bark, branches and the number of rings it has. Ash trees are an important part of the basket weaving tradition, which has long played a significant cultural, spiritual and practical role in the lives of tribal citizens across the country, including Daigle, who is a citizen member of the Penobscot Nation in Maine.

But the emergence of the emerald ash borer beetle , an invasive species that preys on ash trees, has posed challenges for Indigenous basket makers. A grant awarded to Daigle, a professor of forest recreation management at the University of Maine, could help as his research team aims to preserve and advance the craft.

It’s part of the Indigenous For