Nancy J. Turner

Camas (Camassia spp.) and riceroot (Fritillaria spp.): Two liliaceous “root” foods of the Northwest Coast Indians

Two species of camas (Camassia quamash [Pursh] Greene and C. leichtlinii: [Baker] S. Wats) and two species of riceroot (Fritillaria camschatcensis [L.] Ker‐Gawl. and F. lanceloata Pursh) were important root foods for the Indians of the Northwest Coast of North America. Camas and the latter species of riceroot were used predominantly in the southern part of the region, whereas F. camaschatcensis was used as far north as Alaska, as well as on the Aleutian Islands and the Kamchatka Peninsula. The bulbs of camas were an article of trade, and their harvesting and cooking were often large‐scale communal enterprises. Nutritional analyses show that these species would have provided meaningful quantities of fiber, nitrogen, trace elements and energy, if thoroughly cooked.

Two important “root” foods of the Northwest Coast Indians: Springbank clover (Trifolium wormskioldii) and Pacific silverweed (Potentilla anserina ssp. pacified)

Two edible “root” species, springbank clover (Trifolium wormskioldii), and Pacific silverweed (Potentilla anserina ssp. pacifica), are described and their use as food by Northwest Coast Indian peoples documented. Descriptions of traditional harvesting, cooking and serving, and storage techniques for these foods are provided, and their future potential as a food source along the Northwest Coast is discussed.

Nutritional significance of two important root foods (springbank clover and pacific silverweed) used by native people on the coast of British Columbia

The roots of Pacific silvenveed (Potentilla anserina spp. pacifica) and the rhizomes of springbank clover (Trifolium wormskioldii) are two foods known to have been used extensively by native groups of British Columbia. Reported here are nutrient content and scores on acceptability of these foods gathered and prepared with two methods used by the Nitinaht and Nuxalk (Bella Coola) Indians. It was found that silverweed and clover “roots” have excellent contents of Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn in comparison to the potato, which is the modern replacement food in the Indian diet. Steaming or pit‐cooking did not appreciably change the contents of six minerals studied. Overall mean acceptability scores on a 5‐point hedonic scale were 3.0 and 3.5 for pit‐cooked and steamed silverweed roots and 4.1 and 3.7 for pit‐cooked and steamed clover rhizomes.

Determining the availability of traditional wild plant foods: An Example of Nuxalk foods, Bella Coola, British Columbia

Forty‐two plant foods known to have been used in the past by native people of the Nuxalk Nation, Bella Coola, British Columbia, Canada, were studied. To estimate the availability of the most prominent plant food resources, field estimates were made using modifications of standard techniques for quantifying plant species. Assessments of accessibility, abundance and frequency of food species were made. In addition, harvesting efficiency of 24 species was determined. Twenty species were selected as being the most readily available food resources, and therefore good candidates for nutritional research and promotion. These included the trees: Populus trichocarpa, Pyrus fusca, Tsuga heterophylla; the shrubs: Amelanchier alnifolia, Ledum groenlandicum, Ribes divaricatum, Rosa nutkana, Rubus idaeus, R. parviflorus, R. spectabilis, Sambucus racemosa, Vaccinium ovalifolium, V. parvifolium, Viburnum edule, and the herbs: Cornus canadensis, Epilobium angustifolium, Heracleum lanatwn, Maianthemum dilatatum, Potentilla...

Counter-irritant and other medicinal uses of plants in ranunculaceae by native peoples in british columbia and neighbouring areas

At least 20 species in Ranunculaceae, the buttercup family, are reported as having been used medicinally by 19 different groups of native peoples in British Columbia and adjacent areas. These species are known to contain the skin-irritating, blister-causing compound, protoanemonin, in their fresh state. Protoanemonin is almost certainly the active principle involved in many of these medicinal applications. A majority involved the use of the plants as external poultices for boils, cuts, abrasions and other skin sores. Other disorders having a high frequency of treatment with ranunculaceous species include: muscular aches, colds and other respiratory ailments, and general, unspecified illness. Native groups in other parts of North America also used many ranunculaceous species as poultices, and for colds, headaches and many other ailments. A number were used for stimulation and revival of unconscious persons. It is suggested that the protoanemonin contained in these plants may have, through several different mechanisms, positively influenced the healing process physiologically and not just psychologically. If future research confirms this, these protoanemonin containing plants may have potential in certain treatments in modern medicine.

Economic importance of black tree lichen (Bryoria fremontii) to the Indians of western North America

Bryoria fremontii (Tuck.) Brodo & D. Hawksw. (syn.Alectoria fremontii Tuck.) was an important source of food for the interior Indian peoples of western North America from northern British Columbia to northern California. It and related species were also used as materials for clothing and medicine and are known to appear in native mythical traditions. The extent of the use of this lichen and the means of its collection and preparation are detailed in this paper.