Non-timber forest products and Aboriginal traditional knowledge

Ethnobotanical research was conducted in over 30 Aboriginal communities within Canada's boreal forest region. Specific methods for the research were developed that involved a high degree of participation by Aboriginal people in every stage of the project, with the result that well over 100 Aboriginal elders contributed information on the uses of more that 200 species of plants as foods, medicines, and materials for technology and handicrafts. The original field research was supplemented with an extensive literature review to identify potential non-timber forest products (NTFPs) based on traditional uses of plants. Important categories of NTFPs include functional foods, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, herbal medicines, agro-chemicals, and fine chemicals. This report details our research methods, highlights some examples of potential NTFPs from boreal plants identified in our research, and discusses concerns of Aboriginal people regarding sustainable development of NTFPs.