Stinging Nettle
Traditional Foods and Healing Unit

Traditional Foods and Healing explores different plants that have been essential to the survival of our ancestors and people today.

sq̓ič̓əy - Licorice Fern

scə̓dᶻx̌- Stinging Nettle

ʔuhiʔhədəb - Spring

čad kʷi dəxʷʔəsɬaɬlils - Where does it live?

ʔəsɬaɬlil ʔal ti swətixʷtəd - It lives in the forest.

stab čəɬ ǰəctxʷ ti scə̓dᶻx̌ - What can we use stinging nettles for?

st̕əlǰixʷ - Medicine

dxʷshədalqʷuʔ - Tea

sʔəɬəd - Food

• Listen to the story told by Rodger Fernandes called, “How Nettles Saved the People.”

• Look at the picture of sc̓ədᶻx̌ (stinging nettle) with your family before going out to harvest so everyone can know what to look for.

• It is important to gather plants in places away from heavy traffic and pesticides. sc̓ədᶻx̌  by the dxʷlilap fish hatchery (10610 Water Works Rd, Tulalip, WA 98271) is one place sc̓ədᶻx̌ grows.

• ʔuhiʔhədəb (spring) is the best time for this activity while the sc̓ədᶻx̌ (stinging nettle) is young and tender.

• When harvesting, wear gloves, long sleeves, and pants to avoid being stung. Cut the base of the nettle above a group of leaves so that plant can keep growing and stick it in a bucket or paper bag. Please watch video.

• Drying sc̓ədᶻx̌ is a preferred way to preserve the plant. Rinse the nettle with warm water for 2-3 minutes, then place in a paper bag on a counter near a window. Within 1-2 days, your sc̓ədᶻx̌ will be dry. Please watch video and see additional recipes below.

• sc̓ədᶻx̌ (stinging nettle) can treat arthritis, allergies, skin conditions, supports prostate health, lowers blood sugar levels, and aids in pain relief. It, also, is rich in vitamins and minerals.

Family and intergenerational learning
Everyone can gather sc̓ədᶻx̌. It is usually easy to get to, and it grows in large patches not to far off the trail or road. If only some prefer to gather, then everyone can participate preserving and preparing sc̓ədᶻx̌ to eat.

Local Place Connections
Our ancestors and the ancestors of many survived on this superfood before grocery stores. Nettle grows near the dxʷlilap fish hatchery which has low traffic, but it can be found in the woods near you.

Tulalip Life skills:
Harvesting, cooking and eating bring us together and connects the whole family from the youngest to the oldest to our ancestor and our future. This lesson connects the mind, body, and spirit. Our ancestors thrived on these foods, and we should too!

huyadadčəɫ:
By learning about sc̓ədᶻx̌, it connects us to our ancestors, our families today, and to the ones to come. The story of How Nettle Saved the People, explains how our actions today will affect future generations and either honor or disrespect past generations. Harvesting, cooking, and eating is a way for families to come together. I hope you all enjoy this activity, and feed your Indian!

Recipes

sc̓ədᶻx̌ tea:

Ingredients:

• sc̓ədᶻx̌ leaves dried or fresh add to taste
• Water

In a pot or tea kettle, add sc̓ədᶻx̌ leaves and water and bring to a boil. Allow to brew for 2-3 minutes in hot water. Then, strain and enjoy. You may add sugar, honey, sweetener, and/or creamer, if you desire.

sc̓ədᶻx̌ pesto:
Ingredients:

• 4 cups of boiled sc̓ədᶻx̌ leaves fresh or dry. If dry, they will need to be rehydrated by soaking in boiled water for 5 minutes, and after rehydrated, measure out 4 cups, no need to boil.
• 2 cups sunflower seeds (if you have a nut allergy), peanuts, or pine nuts
• 5-6 cloves of garlic
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• ¼ cup nettle stock
• ¾ cup olive or canola oil
• 1 cup parmesan cheese grated (optional for dairy-free)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

In a blender or food processor, combine all ingredients and blend until you have a uniform consistency. You can serve on toast or crackers, or it can be made into a meal when added to pasta and chicken. It is delicious and nutritious! Feed your Indian!

Dandelion

Traditional Foods and Healing Unit

Traditional Foods and Healing explores different plants that have been essential to the survival of our ancestors and people today.

sq̓ič̓əy - Licorice Fern

swəwaʔdis - Dandelion

st̕əlǰixʷ - Medicine

sʔəɬəd - Food

ʔuləx̌əd - Gather from nature/Harvest

stabaɬ ƛ̕ax̌ʷdup tiʔəʔ - What kind of plant is this?

swəwaʔdis tiʔəʔ - This is dandelion.

swəwaʔdis st̕əlǰixʷ ʔu - Is dandelion medicine?

ʔi - Yes

swəwaʔdis sʔəɬəd ʔu - Is dandelion food?

ʔi - Yes

• swəwaʔdis (dandelion) is easily identifiable because most of us have them in our yards and is generally referred to as a weed (see picture).

• Dandelion improves liver and kidney function, helps with high blood pressure, digestion problems, and arthritis.

• All parts of swəwaʔdis are edible, from the roots to the flower. We will need to go away from high traffic areas and treated lawns to ʔuləx̌əd, (gather from nature) this plant.

• The protocol for gathering is always to introduce yourself, ask for permission, say thank you, and do not take more than you need or over-harvest in one area.

• The leaves and flowers can be consumed fresh in a salad, fritter, pesto, soup, or sautéed - any recipe that calls for any leafy green. The stem can be used as a biodegradable straw. The root can be consumed in any recipe that calls for a root vegetable, and once the root is boiled, the skin slips right off.

Family and intergenerational learning
Everyone can gather swəwaʔdis. It can be found easily everywhere, just be sure to ʔuləx̌əd    (gather from nature) away from roads and treated lawns. Everyone can participate in dissecting the flower and preserving or cooking the different parts.

Local Place Connections
swəwaʔdis can be found near the beach or in the woods around your house. When we ʔuləx̌əd    (gather from nature), it connects us back to our original mother earth and our beautiful land here in dxʷlilap.

huyadadčəɫ
“If you get sick, eat your traditional foods. You have to feed your Indian. Native foods feed your body, but they also feed your spirit.” (Hank Gobin) The process of gathering from nature (ʔuləx̌əd) always reconnects our family, our land, our ancestors, and our future. Enjoy this activity and feed your Indian!

Licorice Fern

Traditional Foods and Healing Unit

Traditional Foods
and Healing
explores different
plants that have
been essential to
the survival of
our ancestors and
people today.

sq̓ič̓əy - Licorice Fern

dxʷshədalqʷuʔ - Tea

stabaɬ ƛ̕ax̌ʷdup tiʔəʔ - What kind of plant is this?

sq̓ič̓əy tiʔəʔ - It is Licorice Fern.

ʔəstaqʷuʔ čəxʷ ʔu - Are you thirsty?

ʔi or xʷiʔ - Yes or No

ɬup̓aʔad čəɬ ti sq̓ič̓əy dxʷshədalqʷuʔ - We will try licorice fern tea.

ʔuləx̌əd - Gather from nature/Harvest

ʔuhiʔhədəb - Spring

• Before going to harvest licorice fern roots, follow the link and listen to the “Licorice Fern Story.”

• sq̓ič̓əy (licorice fern roots) is an easy fern to identify because it is the only fern that can grow out of the side of a tree. It grows in the thick moss patches on old growth trees (see picture).

• When harvesting, it is important to follow protocol by introducing yourself, asking permission, and thanking the plant for giving its life. Be gentle when pulling back the moss to uncover the root. Once the root is revealed, find the end of it, and pull it from the tree.

• After harvesting sq̓ič̓əy root (licorice fern roots), try to close the moss again to cover the wound, so it can heal faster.

• sq̓ič̓əy is good for cramps, sore throats, colds, and stomach aches. You peel off the small hairs and skin to the reveal the root, then chew it up to extract the juice. It tastes just like black licorice, so enjoy!

• The roots can also be cut up and roasted in a 200-degree oven for an hour to remove all moisture and stored for later use. Or add the roots directly to boiling water for 10 minutes, strain, and drink.

Family and intergenerational learning

sq̓ič̓əy (licorice fern roots) may be harder to locate than other plants. You may have to go off the path a little further, so people who are not stable on their feet may want to stay on the path and observe. Everyone can clean the roots and make the tea together.

Local Place Connections

sq̓ič̓əy is found in the woods in dxʷlilap. Any nature trail will guide you to old growth, which is where you will find sq̓ič̓əy. This fern enjoys the moisture, so best harvesting time is during the rainy seasons.

Tulalip Life skills:

Harvesting, cooking, and eating indigenous foods connects our family to our ancestors and our future. According to the “Licorice Fern Story,” this fern gave us our BIG voices, so without this fern we would all be whispering to each other!

huyadadčəɫ:

Harvesting is the ultimate connection to our land. Eating indigenous foods is the ultimate pathway to our spirit. So, enjoy this activity together, and feed your Indian!