Food Plants of Interior First Peoples

John C. Hogenbirk is a research associate in the Biology Department at
Laurentian University.

This revision of a book originally published in 1978 is a companion to
Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples, which was reissued in 1995.

Included in the concise and highly readable introduction are
discussions of the physical environment; the first peoples of interior
British Columbia and the importance of plants in their diets, culture,
and economy; and harvest and preparation techniques. Plant descriptions
are straightforward and include common and scientific names, a
nontechnical botanical description, notes on habitat and distribution in
British Columbia, and a section on Native use (warnings concerning
toxicity appear where applicable). Lucid photographs accompany the
descriptions. Because many of the plants are found throughout North
America, the book’s usefulness is not restricted to British Columbia.

This informative and accessible handbook is a welcome addition to
guides that encourage the wise use of edible wild plants.