Traditional Foods

During lunch today, I began to notice that a dialogue about traditional medicines had opened up among the local Elders and those who had travelled great distances to be here. They had come to a realization that many of the medicines in this traditional territory were some of the same from other regions of Canada. This began a sampling of the different tastes and textures of the various roots, stems and leaves that could be used for healing.



I observed how each of these Elders held a special knowledge that is often under-valued in western society.

I watched as individuals became excited at the notion they would be able to go out on the land to gather medicines for their teas.

While a man from the community went to get a shovel and a knife, I handed the women some NAHO promotional bags so they would have something to put their freshly gathered medicines in.

When these Elder women returned, I was invited into the kitchen with them while they told stories and prepared their medicine tea.

Later, I helped to serve the tea to a room full of workshop participants who participated in the Traditional Foods workshop.

This session offered a wide range of valuable information including the damaging effects of salt and sugar, traditional techniques for preserving foods for the winter and beliefs around the importance of feeding spirits and spirit plates.

For An Overview Of Traditional Knowledge And Medicine And Public Health In Canada click here