Plants of the Ancestors: Stories, Names and Evidence for Ancient Plant-People Interactions in Northwestern North America

Indigenous Peoples have occupied areas of northwestern North America for at least 12,000 years. The early peoples arriving here would have had access to many plant species, some new and others familiar from past places of occupancy. Several lines of evidence can give hints about people’s plant use in ancient times: dated archaeological remains of plants and plant-related artifacts; paleoecological and phytogeographical data; linguistic data; and traditional narratives. From intersections of these lines, certain plant resources can be identified as likely candidates for ancient ethnobotanical applications. These species include edible fruits edible greens, edible inner bark of trees, and root foods, as well as plants used for construction, fibre, fuel and medicines. Although most of these have diminished in use since the coming of Europeans into the region, a number are still well known in contemporary times, and are likely to continue as culturally important species into the future.