Fall an important time for traditional First Nations foods, educator says

The Neskonlith First Nation did not traditionally celebrate a "Thanksgiving"-type harvest event, but this time of year would have been very important for their food security.

That's what Bonnie Thomas, who is working to promoteand educate people about traditional Neskonlith foods, told Daybreak South's Leah Shaw.

"Every time any one of our people did anything that took from Mother Earth, it was only as much as they needed and there were always prayers," Thomas said.

"It was always being thankful every time you did something like that."

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Thomas explained some of the food and medicine items Neskonlith people would have traditionally harvested in the Shuswap area at this time of year.

Wapato

Hazelnuts

Juniper bark

Snowberries

Salmon

With files from Leah Shaw andCBC Radio One's Daybreak South

To hear the full story, click the audio labelled:Fall an important time for traditional First Nations foods, educator says