Course:CONS200/2025WT2/Ecological and Socio-Economic Benefits of Indigenous Food Plants in British Columbia

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Indigenous peoples have lived in British Columbia (BC) since time immemorial[1]. As such, they have developed close relationships with the food plants in BC, where the people rely on the plants, and the plants rely on the people[1]. Ecologically, these food plants sustain local biodiversity and benefit climate resilience of the area (NOOA, nd) . Without these ecological benefits, the BC landscape would be significantly altered (NOOA, nd). Culturally, the Indigenous food plants aid in de-colonialism through food sovereignty, and the cultural heritage of the plants[2][3]. Due to the importance of Indigenous food plants in BC, various conservation efforts exist to ensure their longevity[2]. This includes Community led conservation, restoration projects, and governmental initiatives[2]. Despite that, climate change, loss of traditional knowledge, and policy barriers are threatening the Indigenous food plants of BC[2].

Indigenous Food Plants of BC

Giant kelp

Indigenous food plants are defined as plants culturally linked to a group of Indigenous people [1]. Due to the varying Indigenous cultures in BC, the culturally significant food plants vary greatly. Despite that, Indigenous food plants in BC can fit into 6 broad ecological categories; lichens, seaweeds, fungi, conifers, ferns and flowering plants[1]. Generally, these plants require minimal harvest, commonly hand picked, or dug with bones[1]. After harvest, most Indigenous communities ate the plants raw, cooked them, or preserved them through dehydration or burial[1].  

In the coastal regions of BC, many indigenous food plants are considered cultural keystone species[2]. In particular, the Gitga’at People from the central and northern coast[4] highly valued the Pacific crab apple (Malus fusca), which were commonly stored for use in the winter months[2]. The Saanich and Songhees People from lower Vancouver Island[4] ate camas (Camassia quamash) as their main vegetable, while the Nuu-Chah-Nulth People from mid Vancouver Island[4] relied on clover roots (Trifolium repens) for vegetables[2]. The Nuu-Chah-Nulth people also ate the vegetative shoots from giant horsetail ferns (Equisetum telmateia), either boiled or raw[1]. As a sweetener in cakes, the Haida People dried Stika spruce gum (Picea sitchensis), collected from the inner bark of the tree[1]. Various coastal communities also dried giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), to be rehydrated later or eaten as a crunchy snack[1].

Sagebrush mariposa lily

In the interior of BC, the Sylix People commonly eat various berries, camas, chanterelle mushrooms (Cantharellus cibarius) and stinging nettle leaves (Urtica dioica)[3]. Additionally, the Sylix commonly ate root crops such as rhizomes and bulbs, and the cambium of the ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)[5]. For the Lillooet People, the berry-like cones of the rocky mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) were occasionally eaten on longer travels, or brewed into a tea[1]. The crystalline sugars from the Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) were used by the Nlaka’pamux People as a sweetener, and became a traded good amongst tribes[1]. Similarly, the sagebrush mariposa lily (Calochortus macrocarpus) is commonly eaten by the Shuswap and Okanagan-Colville People for its sweet taste[1]. Up north, the Caribou People[4] ate reindeer lichen (Cladonia rangiferina) as a medicinal plant to treat stomach upset[1].

Ecological Benefits

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Socio-economic Benefits

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Current Conservation Efforts

Indigenous food plants have always been a big part of BC’s environment and Indigenous traditions. Protecting them means keeping traditional food practices alive, passing down cultural knowledge, and dealing with challenges like climate change and habitat loss.

Community-Led Conservation and Restoration

Indigenous communities are at the forefront of many conservation efforts. For instance, the Gitga’at First Nation integrates traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) with modern scientific practices to safeguard ecosystems and food sources [6]. Similarly, the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation plays a crucial role in conservation by utilizing self-governance to manage resources sustainably [7]. The Syilx Okanagan Nation's food sovereignty project aims to restore traditional food systems and strengthen cultural connections by reviving the cultivation and harvesting of plants like saskatoon berries, wild rose hips, and bitterroot, which have long been important in Syilx diets and cultural practices [3].

Government and Institutional Support

Some conservation efforts receive support from the Canadian government and provincial programs. One example is Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCA), which help protect land while giving Indigenous communities a key role in conservation. But government support isn’t always strong, so many Indigenous groups are pushing for better policies to protect traditional food plants. Universities and researchers are also working with Indigenous communities to document and revive traditional food knowledge. Turner & Turner [2] talk about how Indigenous food practices are tied to culture, health, and the environment. They explain how colonization and modern land use have made it harder to pass down traditional food knowledge, which affects both biodiversity and Indigenous food security. Their research shows why it’s important to document and revive these practices through education, policy changes, and community-led conservation.

Ecological Restoration Efforts

Sagittaria latifolia

Restoration projects are becoming more important in efforts to protect Indigenous food plants. Grenz and Armstrong [8] highlight the role of Indigenous knowledge in ecological restoration, particularly in reclaiming degraded landscapes for food cultivation. One example is the restoration of wetland ecosystems to support traditional foods such as wapato (Sagittaria latifolia), an important root vegetable historically used by Indigenous peoples.

Community gardens and food forests are also being developed to provide spaces where Indigenous communities can grow traditional plants in urban and rural environments, strengthening local food security and biodiversity.

Current Challenges or Threats

Even with conservation efforts, Indigenous food plants in BC still face many threats, making it harder to sustain traditional food systems and protect biodiversity.

Climate Change and Environmental Threats

Climate change is a major problem for Indigenous food plants. Rising temperatures, unpredictable weather, and more frequent wildfires are disrupting ecosystems and making it harder for these plants to grow [9]. Habitat loss from deforestation, urban expansion, and industrial activities also puts many plant species at risk [10]. Pollution from industries and farming has made soil and water worse, making it even harder for Indigenous plants to grow [10]. Because of this, many traditional food sources are disappearing or getting harder to find.

Loss of Traditional Knowledge

One of the biggest challenges is the loss of traditional knowledge about Indigenous food plants. Colonization, forced assimilation, and policies like residential schools have disrupted the passing down of this knowledge [2]. Today, fewer Indigenous youth learn about traditional food practices, making it harder to keep these traditions alive [2].

Some programs, like language and cultural revitalization projects [11] [2], are working to change this, but challenges remain. Limited access to traditional harvesting areas and strict regulations also make it difficult for communities to continue these food traditions.

Policy and Legal Barriers

Legal and policy barriers often restrict Indigenous communities from fully exercising their food sovereignty—government regulations on land use, fishing, and foraging sometimes conflict with Indigenous rights and traditions. Popken et al. [7] state that Indigenous self-governance is key for food sovereignty and sustainable resource management. Many Indigenous-led conservation projects also struggle to get long-term funding. Although some government and non-profit programs provide funding, it is often temporary and has restrictions limiting Indigenous control over conservation efforts.

Government regulations on land use, fishing, and foraging sometimes make it difficult for Indigenous communities to harvest traditional foods. While some policies aim to support Indigenous conservation, many do not go far enough. Another issue is funding. Many Indigenous-led conservation projects struggle to get long-term financial support. While some government and non-profit programs offer funding, it is often short-term and has restrictions limiting Indigenous control over conservation efforts.

Safeguarding Indigenous food plants in British Columbia is vital for maintaining biodiversity, ensuring food sovereignty, and preserving cultural heritage. While much great work is being done, challenges like climate change, habitat destruction, and policy barriers make it clear that more support is needed. The best way forward is through collaboration—bringing together Indigenous communities, governments, and researchers to ensure these plants and the traditions tied to them continue for generations to come.

Conclusion

Across BC, Indigenous food plants play vital roles for the local communities. Not only do the plants ecologically benefit the land, by sustaining biodiversity, and increasing climate resilience, they also are instrumental in maintaining Indigenous culture. In doing so, Indigenous ways of knowing continued for generations to come. Due to the importance of Indigenous food plants in BC, numerous conservation efforts have occurred to protect these species. In particular, community-based conservation, ecological restoration, and governmental initiatives have occurred. That said, Indigenous food plants still face conservation issues such as climate change, loss of traditional knowledge, and legal challenges.

References

  1. ↑ Jump up to: 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Kuhnlein, Harriet; Turner, Nancy (2020). Traditional plant foods of Canadian indigenous peoples: nutrition, botany and use. Routledge.
  2. ↑ Jump up to: 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Turner, Nancy; Turner, Katherine (February 2008). ""Where our women used to get the food": cumulative effects and loss of ethnobotanical knowledge and practice; case study from coastal British Columbia". Botany. 86: 103–115.
  3. ↑ Jump up to: 3.0 3.1 3.2 Blanchet, Rosanne; Willows, Noreen; Johnson, Suzanne; Batal, Malek; Okanagan Nation Salmon Reintroduction Intiatives (March 2020). "Traditional Food, Health, and Diet Quality in Syilx Okanagan Adults in British Columbia, Canada". Nutrients. 12: 927.
  4. ↑ Jump up to: 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "First Nations in BC". Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  5. ↑ Lantz, Trevor; Turner, Nancy (Fall/Winter 2003). "Traditional phenological knowledge of Aboriginal peoples in British Columbia" (PDF). Journal of Ethnobotany. 23: 263–286. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ↑ Thompson, K.; Hill, C.; Ojeda, J.; Ban, N. C.; Picard, C. R.; Belgrano, A. (2020). "Indigenous food harvesting as social-ecological monitoring: A case study with the Gitga'at First Nation". People and Nature. 2(4): 1085–1099.
  7. ↑ Jump up to: 7.0 7.1 Popken, L. R.; Griffin, P. J.; Coté, C.; Angel, E. (2023). "Indigenous food sovereignty through resurgent self-governance: Centering nuu-chah-nulth principles in sea otter management in Canada". Ecology and Society. 28(2): 12.
  8. ↑ Grenz, J.; Armstrong, C. G. (2023). "Pop-up restoration in colonial contexts: Applying an indigenous food systems lens to ecological restoration". Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 7.
  9. ↑ Levin, P. S.; Poe, M. R. (2017). Conservation for the Anthropocene ocean : interdisciplinary science in support of nature and people. London, United Kingdom: Academic Press, an imprint of Elsevier. pp. 399–421. ISBN 978-0-12-805375-1.
  10. ↑ Jump up to: 10.0 10.1 Fisher, J. A.; Shackelford, N.; Hocking, M. D.; Trant, A. J.; Starzomski, B. M. (2019). "Indigenous peoples' habitation history drives present‐day forest biodiversity in British Columbia's coastal temperate rainforest". People and Nature. 1(1): 103–114.
  11. ↑ McIvor, O.; Napoleon, A.; Dickie, K. M. (2013). "Language and culture as protective factors for at-risk communities". International Journal of Indigenous Health. 5(1): 6–25.


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