UDTR Global Rights of Nature Radar

Mish, Bogs, and Berries: The Significance of Boreal Heathlands as Indigenous Cultural Landscapes

Identification

Public canonical key

doi:10.1177/02780771261432961

Authors

Yu Zhao Ni · Faisal M. Moola · Helina Jolly · Gregory Jeddore · Rachel Young · Kyomi Mitsui · Alexander Johnston · J. R. Wall · Azim U. Mallik

Reported year

2026

Reported language

en

Source type

article

First detected

2026-11-09T19:04:47.751242+00:00

Last metadata observation

2026-11-09T19:04:47.751242+00:00

Last HTTP verification

Not checked

Institutions reported by the source

Lakehead University · University of Guelph · University of Turku · University of Vermont

Reported affiliation countries

CA · FI · US

Documentary abstract — original language

Heathlands are a significant land cover type across the circumpolar boreal biome. A growing body of knowledge has developed around the ecology of heathland ecosystems, but little work has been done to document their cultural significance to Indigenous Peoples. In this study, we integrate plot-based vegetation surveys, a desktop review of Indigenous Mi'kmaq ethnobotany, and interviews with Miawpukek First Nation community members to understand Indigenous values, uses and perspectives of heathlands across the Ktaqmkuk boreal region (Newfoundland, Canada). Although historically perceived as unproductive land of limited value for development or conservation, we found that heathlands provide a diversity of culturally significant habitats and plants used by Indigenous Peoples for berry picking, hunting, traveling, and food preservation. Specifically, Miawpukek First Nation community members hold detailed environmental knowledge of biodiversity, ecology, environmental change, and ethics of respect, reciprocity, and responsibilities to heathland landscapes. Heathlands also facilitate personal and shared community experiences of being on the land that are crucial for sustaining Indigenous customary foods, fostering social and intergenerational bonding, supporting the maintenance and transmission of Indigenous knowledge, and instilling a sense of cultural identity. By highlighting the tangible and intangible cultural values associated with boreal heathlands, our analysis draws attention to the biocultural significance of open and sparsely treed ecosystems of the boreal biome and their importance to conservation and sustainable use.

Identifiers

OPENALEX

W7138966097

DOI

10.1177/02780771261432961

Documentary context

Documentary family

Scholarship

Source-reported types

article

Natural entities mentioned

Ecosystem · Landscape

Entity mentions are not evidence of legal recognition. Jurisdiction studied is separate from author affiliation country.

Sources

OpenAlex · Record 1 · Record 2

• DOI · https://doi.org/10.1177/02780771261432961
• OpenAlex · https://openalex.org/W7138966097

Documented bibliographic relations

Source-declared references and links; they do not establish legal support or UGLC qualification. Up to 20 outgoing references are displayed.

• openalex:w1630305905 · CITES
• openalex:w1965075714 · CITES
• openalex:w1967985018 · CITES
• openalex:w1977607499 · CITES
• openalex:w1979290264 · CITES
• openalex:w1984861583 · CITES
• openalex:w2002572436 · CITES
• openalex:w2006296064 · CITES
• openalex:w2014030761 · CITES
• openalex:w2016225656 · CITES
• openalex:w2028596084 · CITES
• openalex:w2033675236 · CITES
• openalex:w2045705463 · CITES
• openalex:w2048665036 · CITES
• openalex:w2068359773 · CITES
• openalex:w2075453605 · CITES
• openalex:w2084198222 · CITES
• openalex:w2107794977 · CITES
• openalex:w2112069106 · CITES
• openalex:w2123260737 · CITES

0 incoming references within the detected corpus

Documentary status

Relevance pending

Library

This identity is not yet included in the Legal Library.