“Roots of Reflection”: Spiritual Aspects of Plant Harvesting, Ethnoecological Practice and Sustainability for Indigenous Peoples of northwestern North America

Abstract

In northwestern North America, as in other regions of the world, Indigenous peoples have developed rich systems of ethnoecological knowledge, incorporating concepts of kincentricity (kinship between humans and all other lifeforms), and caretaking philosophies that embody responsibilities to sustain, and never to take for granted, those species that provide for humans. These ideas are engrained in traditional harvesting and use of resources, as reflected in people’s ritual and ceremonial practices. In this paper, I present examples of how these philosophical approaches are reflected in human-plant interactions, particularly in relation to traditional food systems. Although in some Indigenous communities today the ritual aspects of food are not as strong as they once were, they are regaining importance as, with increased legal recognition of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, many First Nations communities are revitalizing and renewing all aspects of their cultures, languages, and ties to their lands and waters. The past and present role of camas and other traditional root vegetables in the region provides a good entree for understanding the relationships between food use and worldview.