Page 6 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - April, 2018

6

HEALTH/WELLNESS

Harness the

mighty nettle

Traditional medicine
class uses wild edible
to make nutrient-
packed food

Tribal members met at
the Community Center on
March 27 to learn all about the
super food stinging nettles, a
delightful treat that Mother
Nature offers to her people on
the Chehalis Reservation.
The weather cooperated as
the sun popped its head out
and smiled down, providing After collecting stinging nettles on the Chehalis Reservation, class
warmth as the rain from the participants prepare traditional medicines.
day dissipated. The Tsapowum
Behavioral Health Program sss
provided gloves, scissors and
paper bags. MEDICINE FOR ELDERS
Experienced herbalist experience and everyone was
and wild foods educator eager to learn. Elise did caution After a delicious meal, class
Elise Krohn guided class everyone to not harvest from participants helped make
participants in safely agricultural or high-traffic more than 200 lip balms
harvesting stinging nettle. areas because nettles absorb to donate to the Elders
It’s unbelievable how many contaminants. She also pointed Luncheon later in April.
resources you can collect from out how to identify other The group decided to use
the wild! medicines and edible plants as Douglas fir oils to produce
Our society is so accustomed she collected nettles. the Chehalis Forest lip balm.
to running to the grocery store. Everyone is invited to the
The art of foraging for edibles About the stinging nettle harvest, Elise showed the next traditional medicines
has become a novelty instead Nettles are our first edible process that eliminates the class. Watch for flyers!
of a necessity. Our ancestors greens to emerge in early stinging properties of nettles.
not only knew how to identify spring. They offer us strength Some volunteers assisted
food in nature, they also used and energy during a generative in preparing nettles by rinsing 1 bunch basil, stems removed,
it wisely. time. them and adding them to washed and drained
You can find nettles a beef stew while others ½ cup Parmesan or Romano
Careful harvest in fields, streambeds and blanched nettles in boiling cheese, grated
Our reservation boasts rich disturbed areas with rich, wet water to make pesto for the 1/3 cup walnuts or pine nuts
meal. Two pesto recipes were
materials to make medicines soil from the coast into the used that evening, and both 1/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil
and edible plants. Elise mountains. were very tasty. We shared a 1 clove garlic, chopped
demonstrated the proper way They contain one of the meal, tea and snacks made up 1 tsp. lemon juice
to cut nettles to allow more highest plant sources of of edible plants we harvested Salt and pepper to taste
growth throughout the season. chlorophyll, vitamins, amino while out walking.
The group gathered acids and minerals such as DIRECTIONS
ingredients to add to the meal calcium magnesium and iron. Nettle Pesto Rinse nettles in a strainer, then
they would share later during boil in water (blanch) for one
the medicine-making portion Delicious, nutritious INGREDIENTS minute to remove the sting. Drain
of the class. After returning to the 1 small bag (about 6 cups) spring
It was a hands-on learning Gathering Room with their nettles, rinsed See NETTLES, page 12