THE ROLE OF PLANTS IN THE CULTURE 
OF THE FLATHEAD INDIANS 
THE COLLECTION AND PREPARATION OF FOOD PLANTS 
The Flathead food economy depended upon hunting, mostly of 
big game animals, fishing, and the collection of roots, berries and 
other food plants. As in most societies, the women were responsi- 
ble for the collection and preparation of food plants, while the 
men did the hunting and fishing. When cooking camas, for exam- 
ple, men were forbidden to go near the cooking pits lest bad luck 
and famine overtake all (Turney-High, 1937). Murdock (1967) 
estimated that 40% of the Flathead diet came from hunting, 30% 
from fishing, and 30% from plants. 
Roots and berries formed the most important kinds of vegeta- 
ble foods. The most important plants furnishing berries included: 
serviceberries (Amelanchier alnifolia), huckleberries (Vaccinium 
globulare), and chokecherries (Prunus virginiana). Other berries 
of lesser importance included: kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva- 
ursi), mahonia (Berberis repens), redosier dogwood (Cornus sto- 
lonifera), hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), strawberries (Fragaria 
virginiana), gooseberries and currants (Ribes spp.), rose hips 
(Rosa woodsii), raspberries (Rubus ideaeus, R. leucodermis, and 
R. parviflorus), elderberries (Sambucus cerulea and S. race- 
mosa), buffalo-berries (Shepherdia canadensis), and whortle 
berry (Vaccinium scoparium). The most important root crops 
were camas (Camassia quamash), bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva), 
wild carrot (Periderdia gairdneri), and cous (Lomatium cous). 
Roots and bulbs of lesser importance included: wild onions 
(Allium cernuum and A. douglasii), balsamroot (Balsamorhiza 
sagittata), brodiaea (Brodiaea douglasii), thistle (Cirsium sp.), 
springbeauty (Claytonia lanceolata), glacier lily (Erythronium 
grandiflorum), yellowbell (Fritillaria pudica), dessert parsley 
(Lomatium macrocarpum), and cat-tail (Typha l/atifolia). The 
more important roots and berries were dried and stored for winter 
use, while those of lesser importance were more often eaten fresh, 
though in periods of food scarcity they were gathered in greater 
quantity. 
Flathead women initiated the gathering season with the collec- 
tion of bitterroot in early May. Before digging, the First Roots 
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