Senate Resolution No. 188 BY: Senator MAY HONORING Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer upon the occasion of her selection as recipient of the 2022 MacArthur Fellow WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize those individuals within the great State of New York that are dedicated to the vital work of environmental protection; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer upon the occasion of her selection as recipient of the 2022 MacArthur Fellow, which is awarded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; and WHEREAS, Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer received this distinguished reward for her alternative vision of environmental stewardship informed by traditional ecological knowledge in her work with plant sciences and forestry/forest science, fiction and nonfiction writing and conservation; and WHEREAS, A renowned plant ecologist, educator and writer, Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer is a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Environmental Biology at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry, founder and director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment, and co-founder of the Traditional Ecological Knowledge section of the Ecological Society of America; and WHEREAS, Robin Wall Kimmerer earned her Bachelor of Science degree in botany from the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry in 1975, and both her master's degree and her PhD in botany from the University of Wisconsin; and WHEREAS, Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer is an expert in the ecology of mosses and the restoration of ecological communities; she brings to her scientific research and writing her lived experience as a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and the principles of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), which refers to the body of knowledge Indigenous peoples cultivate through their relationship with the natural world; and WHEREAS, In collaboration with tribal partners, Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer and her students have an active research program in the ecology and restoration of plants of cultural significance to Native people; she is also active in efforts to broaden access to environmental science education for Native students and to create new models for the integration of indigenous philosophy and scientific tools on behalf of land and culture; and WHEREAS, Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer is the author of Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses and Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teaching of Plants as well as numerous scientific papers published in various environmental journals; and WHEREAS, Through her thoughtful efforts and passion, Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer has truly had a profound influence on how we conceptualize the relationship between nature and humans, and her work furthers efforts to heal a damaged planet; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the continuing welfare of the citizens of the State of New York is greatly enriched and reliably served by the purposeful endeavors of individuals who are committed to the preservation of our natural environment and the enhancement of the appreciation of the distinctive features of our surroundings; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer upon the occasion of her selection as recipient of the 2022 MacArthur Fellow; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer.