The Generations Camas project aims to revitalize camas, an important traditional food to Coast Salish people, through testing camas cultivation methods in order to increase camas availability, and developing methods to process and distribute camas projects. Research has been finding different horticultural methods in different environments to determine the best uses of resources (human and financial), how to obtain highest yields, and healthiest soil conditions. Plots include two species of camas, Camassia quamash (common camas) and Camassia leichtlinii (great camas), in the “Big 4” test plot on the agricultural lands on the reservation.
Community Camas Harvests
The DEP hosts camas harvests, usually in May and August, where community members are invited to learn about the project, harvest camas, and take bulbs home to cook.
For more information on this project, check out our video series:
Community Events
Clam Bake
The Swinomish Department of Environmental Protection participates in the annual Clam Bake through hosting recycling and composting stations, encouraging the use of reusable plates and utensils, and providing camas grown through our Generations Camas project.
Fidalgo Bay Day
Fidalgo Bay Day is an annual event organized by the Skagit Marine Resource Committee. This event celebrates our local estuaries and marine life with educational tables and activities from regional organizations. For more information visit: www.skagitmrc.org/projects/education-outreach/fidalgo-bay-day/
