Discovering the Bitterroot

People gathered together Thursday night to hear the story of the bitterroot – a plant known as “Spetlum” to Native Americans, and one that had been an integral and important part of their diet for unknown generations.

“Springing to Life,” Discover the Bitterroot, an event held at SKC and sponsored by the CSKT Early Foundations Home Visiting Program, within the Tribal Social Services Department, featured a presentation by cultural expert and CSKT tribal member Tim Ryan.

Ryan is also heritage education manager for EthnoTech, a cultural resource management firm.

Ryan's tribal experiences and studies have taken him all over the Northwest and beyond. He shares his knowledge by educating others on local tribes and their historic activities of the past. He also reconstructs traditional tools used by his ancestors, based on his research of tribal seasonal rounds, as well as the tribe's lifestyle and economic conditions.

Several of those traditional tools, specifically designed for the digging the bitterroot, were on display Thursday night.

“The bitterroot was highly prized and very important,” said Ryan. Known to the tribe as “The First Visitor,” the bitterroot arrived in spring. 

The tribe's spring migration was timed to coincide with the plant's arrival, and scouts were sent out to alert the tribe on its readiness for harvesting.

Members of the tribe would gather on the bitterroot grounds and a young or middle-aged woman would be chosen to dig the first bitterroot. She would then give it to an elderly woman to inspect. That woman would pull the sheath, or outer covering off and deem that it was ready to be dug.

“The bitterroot was dug before the flower came out, which made the sheath easier to remove,” said Ryan.

A prayer around the roots was said and then, the digging was begun.

Once dug up, the roots were thoroughly cleaned and then, boiled or steamed. To add flavor, they were mixed with berries or meat. Highly nutritious, a portion of 50-80 grams would be enough to sustain an active person for an entire day.

The Latin name “rediviva” refers to the resilience or hardiness of the plant. According to Ryan, the bitterroot is known to grow again, even after being stored for several years without water. “The plant has a great ability to revive itself,” he said.