Ring: Sept. 5, 2002: Dr. Nancy Turner

The Lawson Medal is the Canadian Botanical Association’s (CBA) most prestigious honour and is awarded to recognize a lifetime of achievement in plant sciences. It’s named after George Lawson, who is regarded as Canada’s first professional botanist.

Turner is a leader in the field of plant knowledge and traditional plant use by First Nations in western North America. Her work with communities in the documentation and, in some cases, rediscovery of their cultural heritage has helped to formulate and develop major public policy decisions on land use and economic development issues.

“During more than 30 years of research, Dr. Turner has become internationally recognized as Canada’s foremost ethnobotanist,” says CBA past president Joe Gerrath. “Her research on the classification systems of plants by First Nations peoples and on the uses made of various plants by these peoples has ensured that this knowledge will not be lost.”

“Even though we’re all so dependent on plants we often take them for granted,” says Turner. “But plants are vital to our culture and our survival. The Lawson Medal recognizes the rich knowledge of plants that is embedded in people’s cultures and that this is an important area of research.
“I’m extremely honoured by this award, and I’m proud that the knowledge of indigenous peoples is being recognized through it. I would like to think that they’re receiving this award, collectively, through their own expertise, wisdom and generosity.”

Turner’s many honours include the Richard Evans Schultes Award (1997) from the U.S.-based Healing Forest Conservancy, the Order of B.C. (1999) and election to the Royal Society of Canada (1999). In 2000, she was named one of the Top 10 Thinkers of B.C. by the Vancouver Sun. This past April, Turner was named Academic of the Year for 2002 by the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of B.C.