Saanich Ethnobotany

"Nancy Turner and Richard Hebda present the results of many years of working with botanical experts from the Saanich Nation on southern Vancouver Island. Elders Violet Williams of Pauquachin, Elsie Claxton of Tsawout, and Christopher Paul and Dave Elliott of Tsartlip pass on their knowledge of plants and their uses to future generations of Saanich and Coast Salish people, and to anyone interested in native plants and their uses.

Part 1: Coastal peoples.

This is a thought-provoking look at Native American stories, cultural institutions, and ways of knowing, and what they can teach us about living sustainably.

An extraordinary compilation of the plants used by North American native peoples for medicine, food, fiber, dye, and a host of other things. Anthropologist Daniel E. Moerman has devoted 25 years to the task of gathering together the accumulated ethnobotanical knowledge on more than 4000 plants. More than 44,000 uses for these plants by various tribes are documented here. This is undoubtedly the most massive ethnobotanical survey ever undertaken, preserving an enormous store of information for the future.

Hoofed mammals (ungulates) are the most abundant large mammals in the world. They are also plentiful in British Columbia, which is home to nine wild native species: moose, elk, caribou, bison, mountain goat, two species of deer and two of sheep. There are also several introduced species. In Hoofed Mammals of British Columbia, David Shackleton presents a comprehensive summary of the most up-to-date information on these ungulates. In the well-illustrated introduction, he discusses their evolution and biology, survival adaptations, and social organization. He also covers conservation issues, tracking, and taxonomy. In the species accounts, he describes each species and subspecies and discusses their natural history: habitat, diet, behaviour, reproduction, life expectancy, and mortality factors, and predators. Each account includes a distribution map and data on taxonomy, recent population estimates, conservation status, and traditional aboriginal use. Excellent illustrations and two keys help identify each species by its external features or its skull. Hoofed Mammals of British Columbia is the third of six handbooks on the mammals of British Columbia, a Royal B.C. Museum project to update and expand the classic treatment by Ian McTaggart-Cowan and Charles Guiguet, The Mammals of British Columbia, last revised in 1965.

The woody plant flora of British Columbia is rich and diverse. In the majestic rain forests of teh coast and the expansive grasslands of the interior, in river valleys and alpine meadows, trees or shrubs usually dominate the plant communities. Trees and Shrubs of British Columbia is the definitive guide to all native and naturalized species of woody plants in the province. It is comprehensive and technically complete, yet easy to use. T. Christopher Brayshaw describes almost 300 species of trees and shrubs, as well as many subspecies and varieties. Each description is accompanied by beautifully detailed illustrations of leaves, flowers, fruit, and woody parts. Effective keys and comparative diagrams aid in identification.

"This excellent field guide to many plants native to British Columbia emphasizes the traditional technological uses of plant materials by the First Peoples of the region.... This well-organized, clearly written book contains a wealth of fascination information for both the ethnobotanist and the interested layperson." - Nikki Tate-Stratton, Canadian Book Review Annual In her third ethnobotany handbook, Nancy Turner focuses on the plants that provided heat, shelter, transportation, clothing, tools, nets, ropes, containers--all the necessities of life for First Peoples. She describes more than 100 of these plants, their various uses and their importance in the material cultures of First Nations in British Columbia and adjacent lands in Washington, Alberta, Alaska and Montana. She also shows how First Peoples have used plant materials to make decorations, scents, cleaning agents, insect repellents, toys and many other items.