WaterWater

First Nations & Métis First Nations & Métis Grade 8 – SK CurriculumGrade 8 – SK Curriculum

Earth & Space Science- Water Earth & Space Science- Water SystemsSystemsWS8.3 aWS8.3 a

First Nations & MétisFirst Nations & Métis

• Aquatic plants Aquatic plants

Many of the water plantsMany of the water plantswere eaten raw in salads; were eaten raw in salads; water celery, lemon grass, water celery, lemon grass, duckweed and mint.duckweed and mint.

First Nations uses for CattailsFirst Nations uses for Cattails

• Food: The roots may be ground into a flour. The sticky Food: The roots may be ground into a flour. The sticky sap between the leaves is an excellent starch and can sap between the leaves is an excellent starch and can be used to thicken soups and broths. be used to thicken soups and broths.

• The white colored shoots at the base of the leaf clusters The white colored shoots at the base of the leaf clusters can be boiled or steamed or sliced and eaten raw in can be boiled or steamed or sliced and eaten raw in salads.salads.

• Medicine: Pollen was placed directly on cut to control Medicine: Pollen was placed directly on cut to control bleeding. Also, taken internally for internal bleeding, bleeding. Also, taken internally for internal bleeding, menstrual pain, or chest pains. menstrual pain, or chest pains.

Aquatic plants First Nations uses:Aquatic plants First Nations uses:

• Arrowhead – tuber similar to a Arrowhead – tuber similar to a potato that could be picked potato that could be picked and boiled and eaten as a and boiled and eaten as a vegetable.vegetable.

• Water Lily – leaves boiled and Water Lily – leaves boiled and used as a gargle for sore used as a gargle for sore throats or drank for treatment throats or drank for treatment of diarrhea.of diarrhea.

Aquatic PlantsAquatic Plants

• Water Hemlock:Water Hemlock:Toxic plant –Toxic plant –VERY POISONOUS VERY POISONOUS

ROOTS a marble size ROOTS a marble size portion of the fleshy root portion of the fleshy root is enough to kill an animal is enough to kill an animal or a human.or a human.

• root contains cicutoxinroot contains cicutoxin

First Nations & MétisFirst Nations & Métis

• WildlifeWildlife

• Moose Hunting:Moose Hunting:• Moose can live on pine needles and bark but prefer grasses and Moose can live on pine needles and bark but prefer grasses and

aquatic plants such a lily pads and skunk cabbage. It is very aquatic plants such a lily pads and skunk cabbage. It is very common to see Moose along the shores of rivers and lakes.common to see Moose along the shores of rivers and lakes.

During a fishing trip to Black Lake the First Nation guide told stories During a fishing trip to Black Lake the First Nation guide told stories of hunting moose while fishing because they see the Moose over of hunting moose while fishing because they see the Moose over and over again during the summer along the shorelines. and over again during the summer along the shorelines.

The moose is shot and then it is tied by the horns to the back of the The moose is shot and then it is tied by the horns to the back of the boat and hauled back to town through the water. All parts of the boat and hauled back to town through the water. All parts of the moose are used: meat, fur, horns, organs etc.moose are used: meat, fur, horns, organs etc.

Sources:Sources:

• Saskatchewan First Nations Elders • www.environment.gov.sk.ca• www.wikimapia.orgwww.wikimapia.org• www.wikipedia.orgwww.wikipedia.org• www.fishonline.orgwww.fishonline.org• http://www.npss.sk.cahttp://www.npss.sk.ca• www.agriculture.gov.sk.cawww.agriculture.gov.sk.ca• www.safewater.orgwww.safewater.org

Lori Slater Lori Slater B.Sc. Biology, BEd. Senior ScienceB.Sc. Biology, BEd. Senior Science

• Program Coordinator – Science Program Coordinator – Science