Researcher at the Montreal Botanical Garden and writer, Dr. Alain Cuerrier earned his PhD in plant systematics (University of Montreal with one year at Harvard University) before switching to ethnobotany in 2001. He participated in the creation of the First Nations Garden in Montreal as well as in Laquenexy (France). Since then, he has started ethnobotanical and ethno-ecological projects with several Canadian First Nations (notably Cree, Innu, Naskapi, Squamish) and Inuit peoples. As a member of the Canadian Institute of Health Research Team in Aboriginal Antidiabetic Medicines, he has been active in traditional medicine since 2003. Alain Cuerrier is a member of the Plant Biology Research Institute, adjunct professor at University of Montreal, member of ArcticNet, and of the Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science. He has been vice-president of the Natural Health Product Research Society of Canada from 2010-2013 and is now past president of the International Society of Ethnobiology. He has been a consultant for Alberta Innovates and Avataaq Cultural Institute as well. Dr. Alain Cuerrier has published more than 8 books on plant uses by First Nations and Inuit peoples of Canada.  He has always been touched by nature, its richness, its beauty, and thus espoused the need for respecting it.