Washington State Department of Agriculture

Sharing Wisdom: Exploring Camas through Visual Storytelling

Tahoma Peak Solutions collaborated with New Canoe Media to produce an insightful video on camas, an essential first food of the Northwest. Created as a digital resource for the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s “Tribal Farm-to-School Scratch Cooking Institute” series, the video delves into camas’ rich heritage by showcasing harvesting practices, traditional cooking methods, and its enriching cultural connections.

Tahoma Peak Solutions journeyed to the Glacial Heritage Preserve to film the video—a prairie that has remained untouched for over a century. The Glacial Heritage Preserve typically opens to the public only once a year for Prairie Appreciation Day, gifting us a special opportunity to participate in a rare camas dig. This event not only marked a significant moment in reconnecting Tribal members with their ancestral land, but also contributed to the historical narrative of preserving sacred prairies. For generations, cultural burns and aerating soil through camas digs have been essential practices for maintaining prairies like the Glacial Heritage Preserve. However, access to camas has become increasingly difficult for Native people as prairie ecosystems have diminished without these cultural practices.

Camas, a first food that has nourished Native peoples for thousands of years in both body and spirit, is known for its gorgeous bluish-purple flowers. Its roots are rich in inulin, help balance blood sugar, and can be dried and preserved for year-round use. Spokane/Kalispel Traditional Foods Teacher, Elizabeth Campbell, provided tips on identifying the largest stems in a patch, and demonstrated the process of slow-roasting camas for use in camas cookies, crackers, and cakes—a cooking practice that ignited a spark in her eye and connected her to cherished memories with her grandfather.

By showcasing traditional cooking methods for the Washington State Department of Agriculture, New Canoe Media and Tahoma Peak Solutions’ video inspired and educated viewers about the rich cultural heritage of first foods and the importance of preserving Native land and practices for future generations. The camas video serves as a valuable resource, encouraging viewers to incorporate Native plants into gardens and school grounds.