Held by the land A guide to Indigenous plants for wellness = Wa ch̕'ch'istway ta te̕mxw : šp̓nem txwna̓m ta ha7lh sḵẁlwen

Ethnobotanist Joseph debuts with a rich field guide to the plants of the Pacific Northwest and their significance to Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) culture. She draws on her Skwxwú7mesh heritage to outline "land-based mindfulness practices" and profile tree, shrub, herb, and fern species with healing properties. Indigenous Americans, she notes, emphasize the relationships between plants to an ecosystem's health, as reflected in the practice of managing "forest gardens" in which small fruit trees, berry bushes, and herbs are planted in the same area for their mutual benefit. To cultivate a connection to the natural world, Joseph recommends that readers "run yours hands over the trees or plants around you" and "notice how the ground and air feel." Plant profiles of Pacific Northwestern species describe where each is commonly found, how to harvest it, and its special properties; for example, Labrador tea shrubs grow in peat bogs, can be harvested between spring and early fall, and have leaves that Indigenous people have used to treat respiratory problems. The focus on flora of the Pacific Northwest means this is mostly of interest to residents of the region, but the overview of plants with health or dietary benefits testifies to the rewards of getting in touch with nature. This will deepen readers' appreciation for the restorative power of the outdoors. (Mar.)

Ethnobotanist Joseph, a member of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) First Nation and the founder of Skwálwen Botanicals, an Indigenous business that creates small-batch botanical skincare products, includes helpful advice in this book for all outdoor gatherers. The Skwxwú7mesh language is used throughout, and there's a useful phonetic pronunciation guide. Joseph discusses in detail how to start a relationship with the land, including paralleling one's spiritual self to the cycles of the seasons. Her book makes a great shelf companion to Katherine May's Wintering for this topic alone. The first half of the book is separated into detailed chapters about relationship-based harvesting, apothecary gathering, mindfulness, and the effect of cultural erasure on the land. The second half is a reference section that has line drawings and descriptive advice (including safety warnings and recipes) on the author's local flowers, trees, and shrubs. The clearly marked and separated halves make quick field lookups a breeze. VERDICT Land gatherers of all skill levels located near garden or forest regions will find this a necessary plant and spiritual reference guide.--Elizabeth Chandler