The project focuses on enhancing public understanding of Aleza Lake Research Forest by foregrounding the cultural dimensions of its ecological features. While the forest is widely recognized as a site of scientific and forestry research, the project frames it as a living cultural landscape shaped by long-standing relationships between people, land, and other-than-human beings. The project builds a user-friendly cultural database that supports the development of interpretive signage along selected trails, inviting visitors to engage with the forest through both ecological and cultural perspectives.
The project involves hiring students to support the identification of key plant, animal, bird, and small-species (“critter”) elements present at the site. Working collaboratively with forest staff and project supervisors, students help determine which species are most appropriate for interpretive storytelling and educational signage. From this list, the project compiles a structured database that brings together ecological information, habitat descriptions, cultural meanings, and stories associated with each element. All research draws on existing literature and publicly available sources; as such, no human-subject research or ethics approval is required.
The database initially focuses on culturally and ecologically significant species, including large mammals, birds, and forest plants commonly found at the site. For each species, the project documents scientific facts alongside cultural narratives, traditional uses, symbolic meanings, and relationships to seasonal cycles and local landscapes. This integrated approach ensures that interpretive signage presents concise, engaging, and context-rich information that speaks to diverse audiences.
As part of the project, students may also assist with collecting images and conducting supervised site visits to ground-truth species presence and identify strategic locations for signage along the trail network. Through this process, the project puts a “cultural face” on natural elements, strengthening public awareness of the forest as a place where ecological systems and cultural knowledge intersect. Ultimately, the project supports interdisciplinary learning, place-based education, and respectful engagement with Aleza Lake Research Forest as both natural and cultural heritage.
