Mi primera publicacion English_E_version_low | Page 80

CHAPTER 6 Knowledge - rural, popular, scientific - what counts? knowing out of obscurity and into the to large pharmaceutical companies attention of the public. Not only was or the state, it is not something that this a way to preserve this knowledge, only those with more money can have it also proved to be evidence to access to. No, it allows people to act the women themselves that their autonomously; communities can care was a resounding success and I left knowledge was culturally valuable. for themselves. This does not need to with real energy to follow this path of We won the audience award at operate outside of health insurance herbs further. I began to identify the Mediawave International Film Festival but can work alongside it. Others who key people in my region who still hold in 2014. People were interested. came along were young mothers, The first European Herb Gathering traditional knowledge of medicinal keen to ensure the health of their and aromatic plants. These are usually children, and rural women interested elderly women who we found did not even really consider themselves as knowledge-holders. Their knowledge was experientially gained, handed Traditional knowledge I began to host herb workshops in starting small herbal businesses to increase the family income. We began to see how herbs are related to bottom-up sustainable rural down from generation to generation. to hand this herbal knowledge development: harnessing traditional This cycle has been disrupted; the onto others. We tried in particular herbal knowledge can increase traditional ways no longer believed. to attract and support low-income the health and wellbeing of often With the passing away of these families who cannot afford health disenfranchised rural communities women, we feared we would also lose insurance. Sharing this knowledge as well as supplementing the income the knowledge they hold. about collecting and using medicinal of individual households. Knowledge plants would help reconnect them is stable, it cannot be taken away, ‘Traditional Herb Therapy in Odorhei with nature and be active in their despite political changes. It does I made a film with a friend called Region’ to try and hold on to this. own healthcare provision. This is the not need top-down funding or We wanted to bring this rural, folk, important thing: traditional knowledge permissions. It allows people to look supposedly non-scientific way of is free. It does not require payment after themselves and each other. 76