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Windspeaker.com Books Feature Writer
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Wistfulness and joy seep into author Geraldine Manson’s voice when she talks about her new book, Plant Teachings from My Auntie: Gathering Coast Salish Plants for Medicine, Textiles, Nourishment and Ceremony.
“I had Auntie’s picture in my office up by my computer. (I’d say) ‘Well, Auntie, did I say the right thing, Auntie? Is it okay? Let me know.’ So I believe she has always been with me when I was writing it,” said Snuneymuxw First Nation Elder Manson.
Dr. Ellen White, known affectionately as Auntie Ellen, held a prominent role as Elder-in-Resident from 1994 to 2006 at Vancouver Island University. She passed away in 2018.
“I was ever so grateful to be able to have that opportunity with her. If you ever met Auntie Ellen, you would know she was in your space because she lights up this space. She's so happy and humble at the same time,” said Manson.
Manson spent decades being guided into the plant world by and learning from White. White was her aunt through Manson’s Uncle Doug White. Ellen was raised by her grandmother to be a herbalist.
Manson is passing her learning down to her grandson and granddaughter. Her great granddaughter, who is now seven, is also learning and will be accompanying her this summer, hearing her stories and watching her work.
“When Auntie took me and began teaching me and showing me (in 1990), I was ready. My mind was awakened. It was connected to my heart. And I was so humbled and honoured at the time, because I'm young, and to have this beautiful Elder, well known throughout the world, that she's chosen me to do this work,” said Manson.
Plant Teachings from My Auntie, co-written with ethnobotanist Nancy J. Turner, captures the years of learning Manson did with White throughout the traditional territory of Snuneymuxw First Nation “from the mountainsides to the meadows and woodlands, to the rivers that flow out into the Salish Sea,” as the book describes.
In her writing, Manson stresses the importance of the sacredness of harvesting plants and the importance of Indigenous harvesters seeking out Elders to learn the protocols. Protocols include saying a prayer, acknowledging your presence at a site, thanking the plant for allowing for its use, and ensuring that only what’s needed is taken.
“I can only go back when I first started learning through the other Elders, and the statement they gave me was, ‘You will be our eyes, our voice, and our legs when we can no longer do so,’” recalled Manson. “Every one of those Elders are gone. So I use their voice, carry it out into whatever I'm holding that day and sharing what they meant, what they gave me.”
Plant Teachings from My Auntie includes about 100 plants, many of which have Hul’q’umi’num names. It looks at the protocol to follow before harvesting; when the best time to harvest is; what parts of the plants can be used and for what; and how to prepare the plants for a wide variety of uses.
Many listings also include the plants’ medicinal purposes. Some of the plants are noted for their Western use, like Burdock Root, which can be purchased in stores as a tea, or the bark from the yew tree, which was originally used to make Taxol, a prescription drug.
“Auntie would talk about that,” said Manson, that Europeans would “get friendly with the Indigenous communities” to find out how plants were used and then take the plants to labs “to be studied and dissected and everything to realize that, yes, these Indigenous communities hold wealth of knowledge on this plant,” said Manson.
Plant Teachings from My Auntie also holds a wide range of recipes from making teas to enjoy or for medicinal purposes to making juices and syrups. Cautionary notes for people who are pregnant or diabetic or in other situations are also mentioned.
“I believe those who are going to be curious and interested in these recipes, and if they are Indigenous people, they would go and connect with their Elders within the community. And maybe they are young enough to learn to walk on this path,” said Manson.
Plant Teachings from My Auntie: Gathering Coast Salish Plants for Medicine, Textiles, Nourishment and Ceremony, published by New Society Publishers, will be released July 28. It can be ordered at https://newsociety.com/book/plant-teachings-from-my-auntie/