The role of plant foods in traditional Wet'suwet'en nutrition.

This paper investigates the role of plant foods in traditional diet of a northern foraging group, the Wet'suwet' en Indians of northwest British Columbia. Plant foods were important in the traditional diet of the Wet'suwet'en people, although the bulk of calories, protein, minerals and B vitamins were derived from animal foods. Plant foods were consumed throughout most or all of the year. Large quantities of plant foods, notably berries and fern rhizomes, were collected and stored for winter consumption. Critical contributions from plant foods included vitamin C, fibre, and carbohydrate to balance the consumption of protein in meat. Plant foods also made significant contributions to other nutrients, including iron, calcium and magnesium. The role of plant foods in folate nutrition is still unclear. Medicinal teas, green vegetables and rice root bulbs (Fritillaria camschatcensis) contributed to vitamin C in late winter and spring.