Earlier this summer, a group of six CNC staff, including Dr. Jessie King, Vice President of Indigenization, Aboriginal Student Navigator Stephanie Jack, Indigenous Wholistic Support Michael Antione, Aboriginal Advisor Jaelyn Fulton, Aboriginal Future
Student Advisor Tanya Dunning and Acting Manager Equity Diversity Inclusion and Belonging Jean Baptiste headed out on the Greenway Trail at Cranbrook Hill to harvest Devil’s Club.
The team gathered around 20 branches, guided by Dr. King’s teachings on how to respectfully approach the plant.
“Jessie was excellent in showing us which stem is the ‘Grandfather branch,’ and why it’s important to leave it untouched so it can continue to grow and sustain future harvests,” said Jack.
While harvesting practices vary across regions and Nations, the group also learned how the local climate affects Devil’s Club.
“Jessie shared that in her home territory, Devil’s Club has very specific times when it’s ripe and most potent,” said Jack. “But here in Prince George, it can be harvested in all seasons because it doesn’t follow the same seasonal pattern.”
Jack added that cultural teachings differ as well.
“In my Cree culture, I was taught to only harvest in the spring. That’s a reminder that while there are many shared teachings, there are also unique traditions across Nations.”
The plant is known for its powerful medicinal, educational, and spiritual significance, and can be prepared in various ways:
- Medicinal: The outer bark can be stripped and infused in oil to create a topical salve or tincture. Low, slow heat is essential
to preserve the plant’s healing properties.
- Spiritual: Devil’s Club is often used in ceremony and cleansing practices.
- Educational: Sharing harvesting knowledge connects learners with traditional teachings and Indigenous
ways of knowing.
The salve-making process involved infusing extra virgin olive oil at a low temperature, then blending it with beeswax, cocoa butter, lavender essential oil, and vitamin E to create a healing salve that can last up to a year if stored properly.