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₭O¸EṈ¸(*) otherwise known as Bull kelp, is Indigenous to the Pacific Northwest and has played a particularly prominent role in traditional subsistence knowledge and technology. It was often used to create tools like fishing hooks and bows, and its stipes were twisted and cured for making durable fishing and anchor lines. ₭O¸EṈ¸ supports diverse marine life and plays a crucial role in the food web; kelp forests provide habitats and resources that have sustained Indigenous communities for generations. ₭O¸EṈ¸ was traditionally used in reef net fishing — a method used by the Lummi, Samish, and other Straits Salish groups to catch salmon. Fishermen would set up nets anchored with ₭O¸EṈ¸ to create a barrier that directed fish into the nets as they swam. 

In addition to subsistence and technology, the practical applications of kelp are varied and significant. ₭O¸EṈ¸ was known to be used as a garden hose, refrigerator, steamer, and fertilizer. It also has medicinal purposes and was used to address iodine deficiency. ₭O¸EṈ¸ was used in cultural activities, from ceremonial performances to games and toys for children (Ex. target practice, musical instruments, basketry). It also played an important role in symbolic and spiritual aspects of traditional Northwest Coast cultures and was often associated with powerful beings in Indigenous mythology. ₭O¸EṈ¸ connects various realms: the surface and underwater, continents, land and sea, and human and supernatural worlds. 

As a complete source of minerals (iodine, potassium & magnesium) and protein, ₭O¸EṈ¸ is entirely edible and has been harvested by peoples for millennia. It can be prepared and consumed in various ways — can be dried, cooked, steamed, pickled etc. This week, I decided to make some kelp chips! I’ve included some photos of my partner harvesting some kelp blades from East Sooke Park, and our process of making the chips!

Step 1: Harvest kelp blades with paring knife

Step 2: Rinse kelp with cold water 

Step 3: Soak kelp in cold water for ten minutes 

Step 4: Drizzle kelp with olive oil (and we added garlic powder)

Step 5: Dry roast them on baking sheet at 200°C until brown & crispy

(*) ₭O¸EṈ¸ is SENĆOŦEN, a dialect spoken by the Coast Salish peoples.

ḴELḴ IȽĆ (*), otherwise known as the Nootka Rose, is Indigenous to the Pacific Northwest and is named after the Nootka Sound, a waterway on the west coast of Vancouver Island. It is a resilient flowering shrub that can be found in many ecosystems such as shorelines, floodplains, stream banks, meadows, and forests. 

ḴELḴ IȽĆ is characterized by its pink flowers and bright red hips. Unfortunately for me, the plant flowers from May through July, so I missed my photo opportunity! However, the red ḴELḴ (rose hips) though, remain on the plant throughout the winter. The plant can grow up to nine feet tall, has prickly stems and oval shaped, serrated leaves. A couple of weeks ago, I was on a hike with my sister and she randomly picked a rose hip and started nibbling the outside. She told me that the hips are an amazing source of vitamin C and that I should quit buying vitamins and eat them instead. I’ve done my research and it turns out she was right! The ḴELḴ are rich in vitamin C and and can be eaten raw, dried, be made into jams, jellies, and syrups. Their outer flesh tastes like a cross between apple, plum, and rose. They are known to taste better after a frost! ḴELḴ are sought after by birds, squirrels, rabbits, deer and bears. 

Almost every part of the plant is edible! The stem, shoots, seed, fruit, flowers can all be used nutritionally/medicinally. The seed is a good source of vitamin E; it can be ground and mixed with flour or added to other foods as a supplement. Be careful not to eat the layer of hairs around the seeds just beneath the flesh of the fruit though, as it can cause irritation to the mouth and stomach if ingested. The leaves and petals can be boiled and used for tea or poultices, and the branches and roots have medicinal uses for sore throats and coughs. The bark can be brewed into teas to alleviate labor pains.

I downloaded a plant identifier app (recommended to me by an environmental science student); It’s called Seek and its seems awesome! It’s a free download and it identifies plants, animals, & fungi. I highly encourage anyone to try it out!

My Sources:

• https://eya.ca/news/cultivating-climate-
• resilience/#:~:text=Indigenous%20communities%20have%20long%20used,jams%2C%20jellies%2C%20and%20syrups.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APSLEIS7yIk
• https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Rosa+nutkana
• https://www.growingwithnature.org/nootka-rose-pnw-native/

(*) ḴELḴ IȽĆ is SENĆOŦEN, a dialect spoken by the Coast Salish peoples.

PEPKIYOS (*), otherwise known as Snowberry, is Indigenous to the Pacific Northwest, grows to be about 3-6 feet tall and wide, and is commonly found from low to mid elevations. Its leaves are small, ovate, and attach as opposite pairs on branches. PEPKIYOS flowers are small, pale pink, and bell-shaped. Its fruit is white and fleshy. The plant blooms from May to August, and its fruit ripens in the fall and lasts through the winter.

https://versicolor.ca/nswfsOLDsite/glossary/leavesOutline.html

PEPKIYOS plants create thickets that provide a rich habitat for birds and small mammals. The flowers attract pollinators such as song birds, hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Songbirds and bears are known to eat the winter berries. Mice and rabbits eat the stems, and elk and deer eat the leaves. 

My photo, East Sooke Park

PEPKIYOS contains compounds that can be toxic when eaten raw or in too large a dose. However, many parts of the plant can be used medicinally. PEPKIYOS fruits contain Saponin, a naturally soapy substance with antioxidant and antimicrobial effects on the skin. Fresh berries were traditionally crushed and rubbed on skin to heal rashes, burns, and sores. PEPKIYOS roots and stems were used in tea to fight fevers, colds, tuberculosis, urinary tract infections, and stomach ailments. The Saponin in the berries also makes them useful as a soap. 

I’ve put together a list of my research sources and encourage anyone interested to explore the links. Furthermore, next time you see a PEPKIYOS bush on a local trail, I encourage you to try crunching a berry under your foot — so satisfying!

• https://freshroots.ca/product/common-snowberry/#:~:text=First%20Nations%20uses%3A%20The%20berries,tea%20to%20treat%20stomach%20ailments. 
• https://www.whiterabbitinstituteofhealing.com/herbs/snowberry/ 
• https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/common-snowberry.htm#:~:text=Snowberry%20fruits%20contain%20saponin%2C%20a,berries%20to%20clean%20their%20hair
• https://nativeplantspnw.com/common-snowberry-symphoricarpos-albus/ 
• https://versicolor.ca/nswfsOLDsite/glossary/leavesOutline.html 
• https://nativeplantspnw.com/common-snowberry-symphoricarpos-albus/ 
• https://camosun.ca/about/sustainability/operations/land-and-habitat/natsamaht-indigenous-plant-garden/native-plants#a-g 

(*) PEPKIYOS is SENĆOŦEN, a dialect spoken by the Coast Salish peoples.

DAḴE plants grow to about five feet tall. Its leaves are thick, egg-shaped, dark green, and waxy. Its spring flowers look like fuzzy white bells and are slightly sticky. DAḴE berries ripen in late summer and are a dull blue-black colour. They also have a five-pointed star shape on the underside. 

DAḴE’s dark blue berries and young leaves are both edible. These berries are a traditional staple for many coastal communities in the northwest. I read in many articles that DAḴE berries are full of antioxidants and vitamins, and are often used in jams, desserts, and fruit leather. They can be eaten fresh or dried, which is wonderful because it means they can be enjoyed all throughout the year. Peter Constabel, a plant biologist at UVic, describes the berries as an earthy cross between blueberry and blackcurrant. I can attest! I found some berries today in East Sooke park and they were delicious. I’ve included a link to a DAḴE berry jam recipe that I’m eager to try!

Link: https://cavewomancafe.com/fruit/the-unsung-hero-the-salal-berry/

The leaves of this plant can be used in teas and tinctures to treat coughs, heartburn, bladder inflammation, and menstrual cramps. The leaves have astringent properties (which means that they draw water out of tissues), which also makes them useful to treat wounds. The leaves can also be made into a poultice to help stop bleeding and to soothe inflamed skin. To make DAḴE tea, you can dry the leaves by cutting their stems and bundling them with a rubber band, then placing them in a warm, dry spot away from sunlight. I’m excited to give this a try!

I’ve put together a list of my research sources. I encourage anyone interested in learning more about this Indigenous plant to explore them!

• https://www.goodgrub.org/post/plant-of-the-month-salal 
• https://www.lakewildernessarboretum.org/natural-areas/tribal-life-trail/native-uses-of-salal/
• https://www.uvic.ca/news/topics/2018+salal-berries-constabel+news?ticket=ST-189845-w10rlOcNnaZwzSWaE8cSZS6nF7k-natterjack#:~:text=%E2%80%9CSalal%20berries%20may%20not%20be,plants%20produce%20biologically%20active%20compounds.
• https://camosun.ca/about/sustainability/operations/land-and-habitat/natsamaht-indigenous-plant-garden/native-plants#p-t
• https://www.goodfoodworld.com/2013/01/salal-food-medicine-and-culture-of-the-coast-salish-peoples/ 

(*) DAḴE is SENĆOŦEN, a dialect spoken by the Coast Salish peoples.

I would like to learn more about Indigenous plants on Vancouver Island! Every week, my goal is to choose one local Indigenous plant, find it in nature, and learn about its traditional uses. I will present the steps of this process on this blog to demonstrate my learning!