OLDS, Alta. (Staff) – Centuries ago aboriginal people knew the healing power of wild plants but as elders in the native community die, much of their knowledge dies with them, says a Manitoba researcher.
Robin Marles of Brandon University led a research project in the northern areas of the western provinces to document the medicinal uses of wild plants among native people. He hired native students to work with botanists to gather as much information as possible from what is largely verbal tradition passed down by tribal elders.
Read Also
China’s grain imports have slumped big-time
China purchased just over 20 million tonnes of wheat, corn, barley and sorghum last year, that is well below the 60 million tonnes purchased in 2021-22.
“This is a very important and urgent type of work that has to record this type of traditional knowledge,” he said.
Medicinal plants grow in north
There are about 120 different drugs on the market today derived from plants including treatments for anti-viral agents, high blood pressure, skin problems or plants that contain compounds useful in treating cancer. Many of these plants grow in Canada’s northern boreal forests.
When analyzed the plants show complex chemical structures. It’s possible to duplicate these chemicals in laboratories but it’s costly, said Marles. He suggests many of these plants should be processed in native communities to add value and save transportation costs. Also, some of the uses and blends are kept secret among the elders and that should be respected as an intellectual property right, said Marles.
He suggests natives cultivate plants like sweetgrass, valued for spiritual purposes, and could be over harvested if people continue to take it from the wild.
