By Kristina Tran
Douglas Fir Resource Page
- Benefits and Traditional Uses of a Douglas Fir
- This resource examines how the Douglas Fir is an important and historical part of British Columbia’s biodiversity and how it is used as a medicinal herb. This ecosystem helps protect and maintain the many plants and animal species that inhabit it. It also touches base on how the Douglas Fir ecosystems are at risk and how we can protect them.
- Strong Nations Link
- Strong Nations is an Indigenous owned online retailer. Located in Nanaimo, BC, this resource specializes in Indigenous literature and art.
- Plants of Coastal British Columbia
- This book features 794 species of plants that are commonly found along the Pacific coast. It is an easy-to-use field guide that includes 1100 photos, drawings, and very clear descriptions of each plant’s habitat and range. It also covers information on indigenous plant uses for food and medicine
- Pacific Northwest Plant Knowledge Cards
- This card set can be purchased on the Strong Nations website and highlights 65 edible and medicinal plants. This set has 72 cards and features traditional indigenous uses of plants.
- Story of the Mouse and Douglas Fir Cone
- This Pacific Northwest Indigenous legend tells a tale of the Douglas Fir and the mice. The story begins with a great fire in the forest. As the animals begin to flee, the mice unfortunately were not quick enough to escape the fire. To survive, they asked the maple tree, the western hemlock, and the western red cedar for help, but no one did. However, once they asked the Douglas Fir, the tree encouraged the mice to climb up and find shelter inside its cones. The legend tells that if you look at the cones of the Douglas Fir up close, you can still see the small mice feet sticking out.