Tribal presentation of traditional foods and medicines

Members of the schitsu’umsh (Coeur d'Alene) tribe, LoVina Louie, Debbie Louie-McGee and Wade McGee (Cherokee) will speak on tribal Plants and Medicines at the April meeting of the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society on Saturday, April 18.

Native peoples have strong roots tying them to this land and the lake. Louie summarizes it as, “our approach is respect for all living things, acknowledging our ancestors and the sacrifices they made in order for us to be here, and being open to learning and sharing.” The presentation will include traditional foods and medicines as a way to communicate the history, stories, ways native people lived and, especially, the traditional teachings. 

Louie is schitsu’umsh (Coeur d’Alene Tribe), nselxcin (Okanogan/Colville) and Nimipu (Nez Perce). Her maternal family lived all along the St. Joe, eventually settling near the DeSmet and Worley area. She graduated from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor's degree in Organizational Sciences emphasizing Community and Tribal Wellness. 

As a board member for the Native Wellness Institute, Louie acted as national trainer and facilitator in youth leadership development, strategic planning, family constellations and community healing and wellness planning. She is the visionary behind the revolutionary exercise series “Powwow Sweat” and co-directed the American Indian and Red Nation Film Festivals’ award-winning music video “We Shall Remain.” 

Free and open to the public, this KNPS program will take place Saturday, April 18, at the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St. Socializing with coffee, tea and treats begins at 9:30 a.m., with the presentation beginning at 10. The program is co-sponsored by Sandpoint Parks & Recreation, with support from East Bonner County Library District.