The Ktunaxa nation in BC bans unauthorized cutting of sacred plant in its region
In the interior of BC, the Ketunxa nation is asking the public to avoid taking a traditional plant in its region, which damages the patch of the drug and damage unauthorized harvesting.
The five first nations that form Kitunxa Nation, say that the land parents have come to the people tearing on the ground for harvesting the holy plant without their permission.
The traditional region of the country spreads almost 70,000 square kilometers in south -eternal British Columbia, Coten and Colombia rivers and arrows including lakes, and in parts of Alberta, Montana, Idaho and Washington states.
Catherine Tanese, Chairman of Kattunxna Nation Council, told CBC Radio West The plant is “used for medicinal purposes as well as cultural purposes.”
“Any kind of resource extraction without our knowledge and our permission is nothing that is acceptable,” he said.
Radio westKtunaxa nation banns unauthorized cutting of holy plant
The Ktunaxa nation is banning the unauthorized cutting of a sacred plant on its area for the remaining part of the nation 2025, as the plant’s patches have been damaged by disastrous harvesting. The chairman for Ktunaxa Nation Council, Cathryn Teneese explains why it is so devastating for his people.
Tenez says that the root plant, called ʔyut, is well known among indigenous people, and believes that harvesters are coming in the Ktunaxa region because the plant cannot be available where they live.
“Perhaps it is not accessible to people from other regions, and they know it is here.”
According to botanator Michael Wilson Drawlands Institute In Arizona, the plant grows in the mountains of western North America.
Sacred medicine
The Ktunaxa nation states that Ê”yut is often incorrectly known as the “bear root,” “bear root,” or “osha root”.
The English name of the ʔayut plant is Canybi Lavez, according to which Government of MontanaCoast Salish was used by indigenous people to treat sore throat.
In a published paper, Wilson says that the plant has been used medicinally by indigenous people for centuries.
The roots are used internally in tea for colds, cough, bronchial pneumonia, flu and other respiratory infections. Externally, the root was used to treat pain and pain, digestive problems, wounds and skin infections.
Sarah Loreta Shoster, who is Anishinabe, says that “for a lot of indigenous people, the medicine is not a pill or medicine that you will see in a hospital or a medical clinic.”
Shoister has an indigenous medicine garden in its Ontario backyard, whose crop she says that it gives away independently, hence the urban indigenous people have access.
Instead of removing traditional medicine, instead of selling it, the entire Canada has a common indigenous protocol, but Ktunaxa says the plant is being illegally cut into its area for commercial purposes.
Tanez says that the Oxyut plant has always been a part of the Ktunaxa nation and that the plant should not be commercialized to profit.
In a statementKtunaxa Nation says that businesses are selling online plant, taking it out of the nation by trailer load, which goes against the cultural protocol.
“Out of honor of Ê”yut, and Ktunaxa opposed the nation, in alignment with our responsibilities as people and does not agree to any further harvesting of Ê”yut in 2025.”
The statement said that in 2026, harvesting can be considered based on the case by-case, “As long as people seeking reach already receive written permission of Ktunaxa Nation Council.”
In an email to CBC News, the BC Forest Ministry says it is aware of the issue and met with the council to discuss its concerns.
“Currently, there is no provincial law regulating the harvesting of non-wooden forest products, and therefore, there is nothing to apply,” it said.
