Camas harvest celebrates ecocultural history

The camas meadows on UVic’s campus were more than a colourful carpet beneath the Garry Oak trees to the area’s aboriginal people—the bulbs of the delicate flowers were an important source of food to the Coast Salish nations who made the area their home.

As part of her geography and environmental studies graduate research, UVic graduate student Pamela Tudge is inviting the public to learn more about ecocultural history of the area at a day-long Lekwungen Camas Harvest on Wednesday, June 22 in the camas meadow off Gordon Head Road, across from parking lot 10.

"This harvest will be the first in this area in at least 150 years," says Tudge, who has invited youth groups and elders from various Coast Salish nations to the event. "It will also be used as a model for camas harvests throughout the Lekwungen traditional territory."

The harvest begins at 9 a.m., followed by a traditional pit-cook of the bulbs. Cultural activities and interpretive walks will be held throughout the day and a feast will be held in the afternoon.

Tudge’s co-organizer, Songhees lands manager Cheryl Bryce, is a descendent of the original residents of the Gyro Park village site. The Lekwungen people are now interested in introducing the camas, and other traditional foods, back into their diet to improve their health.

For more information contact Tudge at ptudge@uvic.ca