Ethnobotany of Western Washington: the Knowledge and Use of Indigenous Plants by Native Americans

by Erna Gunther

Since its original publication in 1945, this small classic has acquired a new audience concerned with living in harmony with the environment and interested in the particularly intimate relationship of Native Americans to the land. This survey of the use of plants by Native Americans in western Washington describes the ways in which more than 150 species served as food and medicine, and were used for the manufacture of clothes and other objects.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Plants, Anthropology, Indigenous, Environment, Science

75 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1945

About the author

1896-1982

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very useful book. It is, of course, of its era/discipline; at one point, Gunther observes that none of her "informants" had distinct names for the 3 different varieties of blackberries out here, but then reminds herself and the readers that only the most horticulturally-focused people in any culture tend to have language that specific. I agree with Kelda's review that a known response to settler-colonialism on the Olympic Peninsula was for Indigenous people to give ridiculous answers with a completely deadpan delivery to nosy White question-askers, but I have to say I'm glad that such answers might also be documented in this book! My major complaints about its ease of use is that I really hate how the drawings of the plants are in an index at the back, and I wish the pronunciation guide was embedded, instead of also appearing as an index. BUT, if you're into ethnobotany, all the flipping is worth it.

[Kelda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back in the day, this lady talked to all the puget sound tribes to see what they did with plants. Cool. Really interesting how they do such different things with the same plants. I've also heard that some people would just kind of joke around with 'ethnobotanists' too, those white people studying something they don't know. So that might make sense of the wide variety of uses/answers.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

a wonderful collection of uses of local plants from regional peoples, this book is the kinda book that makes you wish you were around to conduct the orginal research.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! Very informative

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent field research reference.