Camas
qʷɫəɫ (lək̓ʷəŋən)
Camas (English)
Speenhw (Hul’q’umi’num)
ḰȽO¸EL or SPÁÁNW̱ (SENĆOŦEN)
Le petit camas (French)
Camassia quamash (Scientific)
Caution!!! Some bulbs are poisonous Death Camas (white flowers) and can only be identified by a Camas Keeper.
qʷɫəɫ are endangered through denial and loss of Indigenous cultivation.
Please don’t harvest unless trained. Bulbs must be cooked or will cause indigestion.
#3,5
How to pronounce QʷⱢƏⱢ: https://ied.sd61.bc.ca/camas/
These plant names and information are part of a Restorative Education project created by teachers Mx. Emily Menzies, Mr. Levi Wilson and their students from Shoreline Middle School, Colquitz Middle School, and Ditidaht Community School (2019-2024). For more information, please see www.restorativeducation.com/.
The research and language knowledge shared have been assembled through several multi-year relationships with a number of Indigenous Language Holders.
The guidance we have received from these Language Holders is that this information is not to be shared or adopted by other groups or organizations. Their use is relational and each organization is encouraged to build and deepen their own connections through respectful and ethical engagement.
We hope you visit the Swan Lake Native Plant Garden and enjoy the culturally and ecologically significant native plants cultivated here on lək̓ʷəŋən territories.