Summary Explore how people use plants for food, dyes and weaving. Science content Biology: Indigenous People's sustainable use of Living Things (K, 2, 3) Chemistry: Indigenous People’s Materials/Separation methods (1, 6) Earth/Space: Sustainable practices, Interconnectedness (2, 5, 7) Activities in this lesson Extracting dyes from plants Twining Gazpacho soup / veggie smoothie Procedure This lesson is good outdoors near to native plants, but an electrical outlet is needed for the gazpacho soup. This lesson is on how people, particularly Indigenous People, use plants for dyes, weaving and for food. Do the plant dyes activity. Discuss what plants First Nations use as dyes, and discuss other ways of extraction. Twine grass to show how plants can be used for weaving to make strong strands, for rope or fishing line and nets. If possible, walk to find plants that could be used for twining or for dyes; e.g. at Trout Lake we found: Willow bark (for ropes, fishing line and nets) and willow branches for making a fish weir (they take root in the river bottom). Small flowered bullrush for basket weaving. Cedar for wood (canoes) bark (clothing). Iris leaves for snares for elk and large animals (!) Native yellow iris used for a dye (we found purple iris). Berries used for dyes. Make Gazpacho soup from plants. Grades taught Gr 3 Gr 4
