Health, Wholeness, and the Land: Gitksan Traditional Plant Use and Healing

This paper examines the traditional plant uses of the Gitksan people in northwestern British Columbia, focusing on their roles in food, medicine, and broader cultural concepts of wellness and balance. It explores Gitksan plant classification, ethnoecology, and healing practices, comparing traditional knowledge with Western scientific perspectives on phytochemistry and pharmacology. The study highlights the overlap between Gitksan medicinal plant use and findings from other Indigenous groups, while addressing challenges in aligning spiritual and biomedical frameworks.