The colonial roots of natural history and the women protecting Jamaica's plants
Explore the complex connection between colonial-era collections and modern-day resistance. This conversation examines how indigenous knowledge and female warriors continue to safeguard Jamaica's natural heritage against the legacies of empire.
Charmaine Watkiss and Alicia Hughes examine the intersection of colonial history and environmental preservation. The discussion centers on Watkiss's work, 'The warrior’s way: safeguarding the natural history of Jamaica,' which serves as a response to the legacy of Sir Hans Sloane. While Sloane was a physician and naturalist whose collections formed the basis of The British Museum, he was also a slave owner. The dialogue explores how the knowledge of indigenous healers and the resilience of 'warrior women' provide a vital counter-narrative to these entangled histories of colonialism and natural science.
Source: Jamaican healers & plant warriors | In conversation with Charmaine Watkiss | Entangled histories
