Root Digging in Harrington

The second week of May, the kids and I were invited to go Root Digging with the Spokane Indians outside of Harrington, WA. We arrived slightly late and proceeded to get lost the last 1/2 mile, but eventually found the group of students from Wellpinit looking for Camas Root.

We didn't bring a digging stick or a bag, but borrowed some, were shown which plants to look for and we were off. The area was barren, hot and windy. Dust was blowing and the plants were dry, but my kids proceeded to get extremely excited. The thrill of finding the plant (and they weren't even planted there!) and then digging for the bulbous root brought out the competitive spirit in both of them. They were also thrilled to see real Spokane Indians, especially the long-haired teenage ones that seem to bring out open-mouthed admiration in my children.

On our drive from the root digging area to the lunch/picnic spot on the shores of Twin Lakes, we rode with a employee from the Bureau of Land Management and Native American. He proceeded to discuss with me all the ways that they enjoy the starchy root, some put in a pudding, some dry it and make a flour, some just dry it and snack on it (his preferred method) and how pervasive root digging still is to native culture. At Twin Lakes a representative from the BLM thanked everyone for participating and thanked the earth for providing for us even in the most barren of places. // Juliet