With summer nearly here in North America, we often hear about invasive plants popping up in undesirable locations, “colonizing” different areas. But what if we shifted how “non-native” species are perceived? A Dartmouth study with two indigenous nations provides new insight into how the concept of “native” species is associated with colonialism, and how such framing runs counter to the lenses through which many indigenous peoples view their relationship with the world. Published in Sustainability Science, the study presents alternatives that challenge the native-non-native framework found in scientific discourse.