In Held By the Land, author Leigh Joseph presents a sensitive and unique approach to building a relationship with our natural surrounds. As an ethnobotanist and member of the Squamish First Nation she mingles her heritage with her scientific background in botany to develop an attitude that views people as part of the ecosystem rather than a force outside of it. Her focus is on indigenous plants of the Pacific Northwest that are important for health and wellness and she shares her appreciation and knowledge of culturally important plants in her unique plant profiles.
Using stories from her past, the author shares her experiences and shows how she developed her outlook of the environment. She relates how she built her relationship with plants and the land, and the lessons she has learned. She makes suggestions for building an apothecary at home and practicing land-based mindful practices such a harvesting and plant processing.
The bulk of the book is devoted to profiles of 44 plants that grow in Squamish territory or have been important to the Squamish people. The entries are divided into 4 groups based on the type of plant: trees, shrubs, flowering herbs, and other (horsetail, fern, seaweed, and lichen) . Each entry includes the common English and Squamish names, Latin name, line drawing of the plant or its essential parts, an account of the author’s personal experience with the plant, a description of the plant, its key virtues, and its habitat, suggestions for sustainable harvest, and a recipe for either culinary or beauty purposes.
One of the charming plant profiles deals with K’emelay (bigleaf maple, Acer macrophyllum). The author shares her memories of harvesting the flowers with her father, extols the virtues of the edible flowers and the wood which was made into paddles and used by her family to smoke salmon. We learn that the tree grows up to 115 feet tall and can be found in forests or rocky sites from southwest BC to California. It has large 5-lobed leaves and produces pendent clusters of greenish-yellow flowers in early to mid April. A detailed recipe for K’emelay flower fritters and sketches of leaves, flower cluster, and fruits accompany the text. What an informative and unique plant profile!
Everything about this book reflects the appreciation and reverence the author has for the land and her cultural background. She freely shares her reflections and feelings and often recommends meditation to enhance an experience. Starting with the cover, the artwork is captivating and adds greatly to the enjoyment of the book. Delightful as the illustrations are, however, they are probably not very helpful when trying to identify the plant in the field and should be backed up by more specific plant identification materials. End materials include a botanical glossary, pronunciation guide for some sounds in the Squamish language, additional recipes, and list of references.
To buy Held By The Land from Amazon, click here.
Karen Meyers