New plants, new resources, new knowledge: Early introductions of exotic plants to Indigenous territories in northwestern North America
Date
2023
Authors
Turner, Nancy
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Plants
Abstract
Plants have always been important for the Indigenous Peoples of Northwestern North America. Collectively, these peoples named and used hundreds of different native plant species, along with diverse animal species. When traders and settlers from Europe and other parts of the world arrived in the region, they brought many new species of plants with them. Some (e.g., turnips (Brassica rapa) and onions (Allium cepa)), were from Europe, and some (e.g., potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)) were from South America or elsewhere. Other plants, like dandelion, Taraxacum officinale, probably arrived unintentionally, as weeds. Examining the ways in which the Indigenous Peoples have incorporated these new species into their lexicons and lifestyles provides insight into processes of acquiring and embracing new products and expanding the cultural knowledge base for human societies in general.
Description
Keywords
indigenous food systems, native plant species, northwestern North America, introduced species, changes in food and medicine
Citation
Turner, N. J. (2023). New plants, new resources, new knowledge: Early introductions of exotic plants to indigenous territories in northwestern North America. Plants, 12(17), 3087. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12173087