Summer is prime time for gathering and baking camas across the Pacific Northwest. Native people usually harvest – then bake - the plant’s bulbs, as part of their First Foods menu.

And there was even a “bake-off” held outside Eugene, recently.

With shovels and digging sticks, members of the Traditional Ecological Inquiry Program unearthed dozens of camas bulbs from a former ash tree forest on the outskirts of west Eugene. Operated through the Long Tom Watershed Council, TEIP educates young Native people on traditional practices, which includes First Foods.

14-year-old Daniel Morrison said TEIP leader Joe Scott had already shared some things about camas.

“Joe told me it’s supposed to be called like the Native potato. And he said it tastes really good.”

Brian Bull / KLCC

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