Posted on Mar 10, 2023
Moving up the line: Northwest tribal women and girls gather wild celery amid challenges
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Around this time each year, women and girls from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation gather wild celery. They say their ancestors come back through the plant, and the ceremonial dig marks the arrival of spring.
Off a remote highway in northeast Oregon, 16 women and girls get ready to dig for wild celery.
They take a few last sips of hot coffee and tea, and grab their metal digging tools from their trucks.
“So if we’re all ready, we all need to line up,” says Trish McMichael, one of the leaders.
I first started reporting on the Umatilla Confederated Tribes around 20 years ago. As the group lines up from youngest to oldest on this cold, sunny morning, I notice some missing faces – mostly the elders who used to lead.
Off a remote highway in northeast Oregon, 16 women and girls get ready to dig for wild celery.
They take a few last sips of hot coffee and tea, and grab their metal digging tools from their trucks.
“So if we’re all ready, we all need to line up,” says Trish McMichael, one of the leaders.
I first started reporting on the Umatilla Confederated Tribes around 20 years ago. As the group lines up from youngest to oldest on this cold, sunny morning, I notice some missing faces – mostly the elders who used to lead.
Moving up the line: Northwest tribal women and girls gather wild celery amid challenges
Posted from kuow.org
Native Americans
Food/Chow
Posted 1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."“It just tastes so green, and springy and fresh,” she says. “There’s just nothing like it. I could really go on about celery; I love the celery so much.”
Horns are honking from back near the road. Everyone climbs down from the cliffs, carrying their woven bags full of celery.
Soon, the women will wash their hands with rose water. They’ll bring the roots into the longhouse for two days of preparation and celebration, and more than a hundred people will gather to celebrate their work and taste the harvest."
..."“It just tastes so green, and springy and fresh,” she says. “There’s just nothing like it. I could really go on about celery; I love the celery so much.”
Horns are honking from back near the road. Everyone climbs down from the cliffs, carrying their woven bags full of celery.
Soon, the women will wash their hands with rose water. They’ll bring the roots into the longhouse for two days of preparation and celebration, and more than a hundred people will gather to celebrate their work and taste the harvest."
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