As most of you already know, my experience and interest
is primarily in or from the Arctic and Western Canada; however, historically, the
families of both maternal grandparents were among the very earliest pioneers of
this area.
Nuts
Hazelnuts
Acorns
Berries
*Blackcap Raspberry
*Cranberry
Elderberry
Huckleberry
Salal
*Salmonberry
*Saskatoon (Service Berry)- introduced by horticulturists , originally
not common in the area.
Soapberry
*Thimbleberry
Wild Blackberry- Native to Western Canada, introduced by horticulturists , did not
originally grow in the area.
Wild Strawberry
Fruits
Bitter cherry
Chokecherry
Crabapple
Current
Gooseberry
Indian Plum
Wild Rose-while very important to geed health and nutrition-
rose hips were NOT recognized as a food item by most of the indigenous tribes
Edible Greens
*Cat- tail
Cow Parsnip (Indian Parsley)
*Fiddlehead Ferns
*Fireweed Shoots
*Horsetail Fertile Shoots
*Nettles
*Sprouts (salmonberry or thimbleberry shoots)
*Spruce shoots
*Wild lettuces - spring beauty, violet,
watercress
Roots/Bulbs
Camas
Biscuit Root (wild carrot- Lomatium)
*Bracken Fern Root
Lily Roots (several possible varieties)
*Pacific Cinquefoil
Springbank Clover
Wapato (Indian Swamp Potato)
Wild Onion
Other
Bedstraw (Cleavers)
Maple sugar (possible)
Mustard
Seaweed
*Kelp (with herring row)
Non-native Nutritious Wild Foods
Chickweed
*Dandelion Greens
Lamb’s Quarters
Common Seafood
Clams (many types)
Geoduck
Muscles
Gooseneck barnacles
Oysters
Shrimp
Crab
Seal
Octopus
Fish
Salmon
Smelt (eulachon)
Halibut
Ling cod
Sturgeon
Trout
Wild Game
Duck
Grouse
Deer
Elk-meaning the wapiti which is not an elk; but is an animal
found only in North America.
Moose-Meaning an actual elk and the national animal of
Norway.
Bear
*Indicates species that were not found in archaeological
digs. Some, like chickweed, dandelion and thistle are introduced species; while
others like cattails, and the gift of the conifers, were not recognized as
possible food, medicinal, or nutritional, items by natives who were truly
indigenous to the area –they learned how these items could be used as food or
to prevent scurvy or rickets from Europeans.
