First Peoples Food Wellness
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Cedar Box Teaching Toolkit
This Toolkit is an educational resource featuring important native foods in Salish Country and the rich cultural traditions that surround them. The foods were selected because of their high nutritional value, cultural significance, and reasonable availability.
More About This Resource Cedar Box Teaching ToolkitPathways to the revitalization of Indigenous food systems: Decolonizing diets through Indigenous-focused food guides
This paper critiques the 2019 Canadian Food Guide for its Westernized approach, arguing that it overlooks Indigenous food systems and food security needs. It proposes the development of Indigenous-led food guides, using Fisher River Cree Nation as a case study to support community-based resurgence and decolonization of nutrition guidelines.
More About This Resource Pathways to the revitalization of Indigenous food systems: Decolonizing diets through Indigenous-focused food guidesMoolks (Pacific crabapple, Malus fusca) on the North Coast of British Columbia: Knowledge and Meaning in Gitga’at Culture
This thesis explores the ethnobotanical knowledge and morphological variation of Malus fusca among the Gitga’at First Nation, revealing the recognition of distinct varieties and highlighting the value of integrating traditional and scientific knowledge for cultural and ecological resilience.
More About This Resource Moolks (Pacific crabapple, Malus fusca) on the North Coast of British Columbia: Knowledge and Meaning in Gitga’at CultureThe λ’aayaʕas Project: Revitalizing Traditional Nuu-chah-nulth Root Gardens in Ahousaht, British Columbia
This thesis documents the λ’aayaʕas Project, a community-led initiative restoring Nuu-chah-nulth traditional root gardening and cultural practices to strengthen ecological and cultural resilience through experiential learning.
More About This Resource The λ’aayaʕas Project: Revitalizing Traditional Nuu-chah-nulth Root Gardens in Ahousaht, British ColumbiaThe Ethnobotany and Descriptive Ecology of Bitterroot, Lewisia rediviva Pursh (Portulacaceae), in the Lower Thompson River Valley, British Columbia: A Salient Root Food of the Nlaka'pamux First Nation
This paper explores the ethnobotanical significance, ecological characteristics, and anthropogenic influences on Lewisia rediviva (bitterroot) among the Nlaka'pamux First Nation in British Columbia, highlighting its role as a food and medicinal resource, traditional management practices, and adaptation to human-induced disturbance.
More About This Resource The Ethnobotany and Descriptive Ecology of Bitterroot, Lewisia rediviva Pursh (Portulacaceae), in the Lower Thompson River Valley, British Columbia: A Salient Root Food of the Nlaka'pamux First NationWet'suwet'en Ethnobotany: Traditional Plant Uses
Plants are used by Wet'suwet'en people for herbal medicines, foods, and material culture. The names and uses of 59 species of vascular plants and three nonvascular taxa are documented in this study.
More About This Resource Wet'suwet'en Ethnobotany: Traditional Plant Uses“To Feed all the People”: Lucille Clifton’s Fall Feasts for the Gitga’at Community of Hartley Bay, British Columbia
This article highlights the lasting influence of Lucille Clifton, Eagle Matriarch of the Gitga’at Nation, whose deep knowledge of traditional foods, community leadership, and annual feasts helped preserve Gitga’at cultural identity and resilience, ensuring that her teachings remain vital amid global change.
More About This Resource “To Feed all the People”: Lucille Clifton’s Fall Feasts for the Gitga’at Community of Hartley Bay, British ColumbiaThe Traditional Foods of Puget Sound Project
Through this community-based research project, the research team worked with scores of tribal service providers and cooks to address this research question: How do we utilize research about traditional foods of Puget Sound Indians to create a healthier diet and lifestyle for Indian people today?
More About This Resource The Traditional Foods of Puget Sound ProjectA Guide to Aboriginal Hunting Rights: Fishing, Hunting, Trapping, Gathering
This guide outlines the Aboriginal haresting rights of status Indians, non-status Indians, and Metis people in British Columbia.
More About This Resource A Guide to Aboriginal Hunting Rights: Fishing, Hunting, Trapping, GatheringTraditional Food Systems Research with Canadian Indigenous Peoples
This article offers an overview of a successful research and education intervention program with one British Columbia community demonstrated that increasing traditional food use can improve health status for vitamin A, iron and folic acid. It is concluded that traditional food systems are rich with potential for research and public
More About This Resource Traditional Food Systems Research with Canadian Indigenous PeoplesSetting the Table for a Healthy Food Conversation: Tips for care providers working within Aboriginal Communities
The information here was designed in collaboration with members of the local Aboriginal community to help support culturally safe conversations around food and nutrition.
More About This Resource Setting the Table for a Healthy Food Conversation: Tips for care providers working within Aboriginal CommunitiesTraditional Coast Salish Foods
This poster lists nearly 300 food sources compile from a 2003 survery of 130 archaeological sites in King, Kitsap and Snohomish counties, and information collected by Northwest Indian College from ethnographic account and Coast Salish elders, hunters, fishermen and gatherers.
More About This Resource Traditional Coast Salish Foods