Indigenous Herbalism Traditions Worldwide with Elena Rios

Join Elena to explore the rich and diverse world of traditional plant medicine as practiced by Indigenous cultures across the globe, focusing specifically on the Southern California region. This class delves into the ancestral knowledge of herbal remedies, healing rituals, and ecological relationships with native plants. Students will gain insight into the cultural, spiritual, and medicinal significance of herbs, while examining the importance of respectful engagement, preservation, and ethical use of traditional knowledge.

Elena Rios is a Nature Connection Mindfulness Guide/Mentor, Cultural Practitioner, Wildland Fire Professional, and Interdisciplinary Artist. She draws inspiration from the stories of her late grandmother, Maria, who was a practicing “curandera” and “huesera” in her community. Her journey toward deepening relationship with the healing power of trees, plants, herbs, and flowers has continued throughout her life. It has taken shape within the context of their use in Indigenous ceremony, dance, and song, including Danza Azteca.

As a young adult, Elena worked on such specialized wildland fire crews as Southern California USFS Interagency Hotshots. There, she experienced the kind of camaraderie found among operators who work on highly trained teams. Later, as an employee of the Santa Ynez Chumash Fire Department, she received training as a Cultural Specialist from tribal elders and archeologists. This has enhanced her perspective in relationship to land and place.

Elena was born in California, and spent much of her childhood on the ancestral lands of the Tongva and Acjachemen peoples. She spent many of her formative years on Tübatulabul/Yokut territory in the foothills of Sequoia National Forest, where she learned about ranch, land, and fire stewardship. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute. A descendant of Intertribal Xicana Indigena/Multi-racial Native and European ancestors, she has made her home on unceded Chumash territory for more than 30 years.

Host or Publisher Ema's Herbs