Evidence for Bracken Fern as a Food for Aboriginal Peoples of Western Washington
Norton HH. 1979. Evidence for Bracken Fern as a Food for Aboriginal Peoples of Western Washington. Economic Botany. 33(4):384-396
The aboriginal culture of the Northwest Coast is well known for its elaboration of cultural forms and reliance on the prolific fisheries of the region. Less well understood is the role indigenous plants played in the subsistence of the native peoples. A search of the historical and ethnographic literature indicates that bracken (Pteridium aquilinum Kuhn) was a major item in the dietary of the peoples of western Washington contributing both starch and fiber. This fern was collected and prepared by native women as a form of "flour" and baked or dried into cakes or bread. The record also indicates plant management by burning which has not previously been considered as a systematic method of production for the foraging societies of western Washington.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Norton, Helen
- Units
- OLYM
- Keywords
- bracken fern, Ethnobotany, plant management