47 
MATERIA MEDICA OF THE BELLA COOLA AND NEIGHBOUR- 
ING TRIBES OF BRITISH COLUMBIA 
By Harlan I. Smith 
INTRODUCTION 
This paper describes the materia medica of four tribes of British 
Columbia, the Bella Coola of Bella Coola valley, the Gitksan of Skeena 
river, the Carrier who live in the territory behind both of these tribes, and 
the Sikani of the headwaters of Peace river. Among the Bella Coola the 
medicines are largely family possessions known to a few individuals only, 
so that two families may have different remedies for the same specific 
complaint; but this is not the case among the other tribes. Everywhere 
magical practices enter largely into the treatment of disease, but are not 
touched upon in this report. It was impossible for the Indians to diagnose 
many of their maladies, so that the identifications given here are in many 
cases problematical. 
Most of the information relating to the Bella Coola was given the 
writer in 1920-22, by Joshua Moody, apparently a full-blood Bella Coola 
Indian, born about 1868. As he did not speak English he gave the data 
in Chinook jargon, which has been interpreted and arranged in logical 
order. Joshua is an Indian scientist with great knowledge of the local 
plants and animals. He remembers when Mr. John Clayton was the 
only white man living in Bella Coola valley, and when the inhabitants saw 
only one other white man every year or two. Consequently he can recall 
the old Bella Coola material culture before it was much affected by Euro- 
pean ideas. 
Some of the information relating to the Bella Coola was given the 
writer in 1922-23 by the late Captain Schooner, also, apparently, a full- 
blood, born about 1848, who used the Chinook jargon. Alec Davis, 
Alexander Cleleman, Louie Hall, and other Bella Coola Indians likewise 
gave information and corroboration. 
Most of the information relating to the Southern Carrier Indians of 
Ulkatcho was secured during 1920-1922 from Charlie West, alias Pretty 
Charlie or Handsome Charlie, a native of that place, born about 1874. 
Charlie used the peculiar form of broken or pidgeon English commonly 
employed for communication between the whites and the Carrier and 
Chilcotin Indians of this region. 
The information about the Sikani and the Northern Carriers of 
Hagwelget is from stray field notes kindly supplied by Mr. D. Jenness. 
The information relating to the Gitksan was secured in 1925-26 from 
the late John Fowler and Abraham Fowler of Kitwanga, Luke Fowler arid 
Bob Robinson of Hazelton, with additions and corroboration from a few 
others, all old Gitksan Indians, apparently full-blood. The information 
was secured mainly in English, although Abraham Fowler used also the 
Chinook jargon. 
The method the writer employed was to submit specimens of the 
plants to his informants and question them concerning all their uses. Of 
the information thus obtained only the medicinal portion has been pre- 
sented here. The plants were later identified by Mr. M. O. Malte, of the 
National Museum, Ottawa. 
72984—4 
