Foraging is considered the earliest method by which modern humans, and even earlier, related beings, gathered the essentials for survival. This practice shaped our understanding of what constitutes edible food today. Foraging was the primary means by which our ancestors connected with Mother Earth, consuming what she provided. By definition, foraging means relying on nature to provide food, essentially gathering wild foods to survive.
Many of us wish to reconnect with the land we live on and become more aware of our surroundings and how to utilize wild plants. Initially, this blog post was to feature some common foragable foods you can find, but it quickly turned into something arguably more important. When it comes to discussing Indigenous values and our approach to Mother Earth, it’s easy to forget that we are a part of her. Since we all desire to reconnect, here is a quick piece of connection advice: relationship.
Not long ago, Luke and Linda Black Elk were asked how to handle posting foraging advice on social media, knowing that some people might misuse the information and overharvest plants. This issue is something Indigenous people face worldwide when plants gain attention for their “properties” and become “in demand” in the economy, leading Native people to stop consuming them.
Their response: focus on relationship over skill. A relationship with someone or something involves taking the time to know, understand, trust, and build communication with it. Think about your relationships with people; they largely involve respect for their presence, among other things. Skill, on the other hand, focuses on questions like “How do I cook with it?” “What parts of the plant are good to eat?” “Where do I find it?” “How do I store it?” This approach loses the intrinsic value of the plant as our relative.
In Lakota culture, everything is alive, and therefore everything deserves our effort to build a relationship. During this and the next foraging season, if you want to Indigenize your foraging experience, ask yourself: Am I focusing on skill or relationship? The more relationships we build with Mother Earth, the less likely we are to overharvest. We believe that a strong relationship fosters respect, and when we know a plant—a medicinal relative—we will know how to take care of it. Collectively, we will ensure that we protect the plant, meet its needs, and help it thrive as it helps us heal. Food as medicine means taking care of plants just as they take care of us.
