A historical-ecological approach to phytolith analysis and environmental management in the Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest of North America is home to many Indigenous traditional land management practices, many of which have been downplayed in modern scientific discourse. Phytolith research has shown to be successful in characterizing traditional land management globally, but has been rarely utilized in the Pacific Northwest. This thesis tests the viability of phytolith analysis in the region by creating a modern phytolith reference collection of culturally salient plant species and analyzing phytoliths associated with forest garden land-use practices in Sts'ailes First Nation. The results of this research indicate that many plant species produce more phytoliths than expected, and that forest garden phytolith assemblages show significant differences from surrounding ecosystems with patterns that enable interpretations about the historical ecology of Sts'ailes land-use through time. The preservation of phytoliths is driven by numerous factors and future research should continue to consider the hyper-local nature of phytolith preservation, especially in historical-ecological contexts.