Plants were an integral part of the Coast Salish diets prior to Euro-American colonization. They provided fiber and crucial vitamins and minerals not available through the consumption of animal foods, which was particularly important for children and pregnant and nursing women.

In addition to their dietary importance, plants played central roles in the social systems of Northwest Coast peoples, from the marking of seasons to the organization of labor, and the maintenance of relationships to ensure access to important foods. The harvest and stewardship of plant resources fell primarily to Northwest Coast women, so the study of people-plant relationships is also the study of women’s contributions to social well-being.

 

More Native Plant Info from the Burke Museum

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