Seeds of knowledge
Jack Blake shares traditional wisdom during Heritage Fair
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 2, 2013
TETLIT'ZHEH/FORT MCPHERSON
Jack Blake knows a lot about traditional plants. The Grade 6 student at Chief Julius School in Fort McPherson says his father and grandmother taught him about local plants and their uses, all of which Blake incorporated into his Heritage Fair project earlier this school year.
His work earned him the top prize and Blake is now expected to participate in the regional Heritage Fair in the spring.
"I had to go out on the land to study the plants," Blake said. "I learned stuff about plants from my dad and my grandma and from the Internet."
Blake said his project included information about Labrador Tea, which has a variety of traditional uses.
"There are two types, a short one and a tall one," he said. "You could use them when you have a cold and when you have a fever, you can sip some."
Blake also learned about roots used to make tobacco pipes and where to find them.
"You take it out of the ground, in the root you carve a bowl," he said. "You have to make a hole in the middle. It's usually found in swampy places."
For his presentation, Blake said he created an information board with literature about each plant and how it was traditionally used. He even had samples to share so students and teachers could experience the plants' functions firsthand.
"I also gave the people who came around some spruce gum so they could chew on it," he said. "You'll absorb vitamins and all the nutrients in the spruce gum."
Blake said spruce gum was sometimes used as a natural bandage. It was spread onto a cut to keep out infection and promote healing.
Spruce was also used to make tea, he added.
"You boil it so you could drink the juice," he said. "It's good for fever and say you get sick with something, you could just use that."
Blake said once he started learning about plants, he took every opportunity to get out on the land to learn more. During a school trip on the land at the beginning of the school year, Blake said he spent most of his time hunting for plants.
"Our whole school had an out on the land trip so I used that time to study the plants," he said.
Blake said he enjoys learning skills passed down through the generations.
"It's a part of my traditions and my grandpa and his dad and stuff," he said. "They used to use the plants for medicine and they still use it for medicine today."
Blake said he is especially glad that his grandmother and his father are pleased about his interest in traditional plants and medicines.
"They were happy that I wanted to learn about the plants," he said.
