Preserving Medicinal Plant Knowledge

For thousands of years, plants have played a significant role in the lives of First Nations people. Trees were carved into canoes, flowers became natural dyes for clothing, and plants of all types were gathered for medicine.

One study counted nearly 550 plants with medicinal properties that were used by First Nations in the Canadian boreal forest. These plants treated nearly 30 different ailments, including fevers, colds, and diabetes.

“The foods we eat are medicine and healing,” says Coast Salish plant educator Cease Wyss. Her traditional name is T’uy’tanat, which translates to “medicine woman” in the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) language. Wyss has been teaching people about traditional uses of plants for more than 25 years. “[I’m] helping people to become educated, to be stewards of the land,” she explains.

A spiritual connection

First Nations medicine is closely tied to a respect for the natural world. “Every time I pick [plants] I take a moment with them; I talk to the plant, I hold it,” Wyss says. In her culture, plants are considered the second oldest living beings on the planet, so Wyss appropriately calls them grandmothers.

Vanishing knowledge in modern day

Indigenous plant wisdom has been carefully discovered over thousands of years and passed down from one generation to the next through oral tradition. In today’s world, people are relying less on these teachings to survive. As First Nations elders pass away from old age, so do these teachings.

“My philosophy is that if I don’t teach people about the indigenous species that exist, they’re going to disappear,” Wyss fears.

Medicines at risk

Some indigenous plants have had their habitats taken away by infrastructure, industry, and invasive species. There are nearly 500 invasive plant species in Canada, many of which were brought over from Europe in the 19th century. These invasive plants often outcompete native plants used by First Nations.

Preserving plant wisdom

One way to preserve plant wisdom is to use traditional knowledge to gather and use medicinal plants. Wyss believes anybody can implement her traditional teachings, as long as they have the right motive. “It’s not so much about who’s gathering; it’s about how people are gathering and what their intentions are,” she says.

Follow foraging rules

Every major jurisdiction has its own rules about foraging on public lands, so before gathering, contact your local government to find out its regulations. It is also important to ensure that the plants have not been treated with any sprays or pesticides.

Gather sustainably

As urban gardening and wild foraging rises in popularity, so does the overpicking of indigenous medicinal plants.

“The really true approach to indigenous gathering is that we only take what we need for ourselves and our families,” Wyss explains. If she sees a plant not very abundant in an area, she doesn’t pick from it at all. “I’ll photograph it because I want to keep it in some way.”

Consider invasive species

Instead of harvesting from indigenous plants, Wyss suggests foraging invasive plants such as the Himalayan blackberry, whose berries are just as delicious as the native trailing blackberry plant.

Become a steward to First Nations culture

Indigenous knowledge is widespread and varied from region to region. You can help preserve their teachings by connecting with your local First Nations community, a nearby Aboriginal Friendship Centre, or the Aboriginal Tourism Association of Canada (aboriginalcanada.ca/en).

“Go to pow-wows, go to any of the gatherings, support local and indigenous economies as often as you can,” Wyss advocates. “You start with one thing and it ripples out.”