camas

Multiple tribes have started to re-learn how to traditionally harvest camas flowers. The bulbs of these deep purple flowers were once a staple of indigenous diets in the Pacific Northwest.

A prized plant for regional Native Americans has been carefully cultivated for more than 3,500 years, according to an Oregon State University study.

Of more than 570 federally-recognized Native American tribes in the U.S., two currently lack the right to hunt, gather, and fish on their ancestral lands. And both are located inside Oregon’s boundaries.