The Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC) is giving notice that harvesting ʔayut (Canby’s Lovage) by non-Ktunaxanin̓tik is still not permitted in ɁamakɁis Ktunaxa (Ktunaxa homelands).

The following statement (issued in 2025) has been extended through 2026:

Statement to halt unauthorized harvesting of ʔayut

Out of respect for the ʔayut, and in alignment with our responsibilities as Ktunaxa people, the Ktunaxa Nation opposes and does not consent to any further harvesting of ʔayut in 2026.

We exercise our Ktunaxa stewardship rights and responsibilities to maintain and protect ʔayut, which is a Ktunaxa sacred resource integral to our culture and ceremonies.

These inherent rights are recognized by ʔa·knumuȼtiⱡiⱡ, (Ktunaxa law—the Ktunaxa sacred covenant with the Creator, including the Ktunaxa Land Declaration) and by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Article 11-1.

The health of the Ktunaxa Nation relies on the health of the ʔamak ¢ wuʔu (land and water), and ʔayut is a vital part of spiritual connection, culture, and healing.

We are taking time to ensure that all ʔayut harvesting practices within ɁamakɁis Ktunaxa reflect care, balance, and long-term sustainability, and we are guided by ʔa·knumuȼtiⱡiⱡ, including the Ktunaxa sacred covenant with the Creator: Yakaⱡ hankatiⱡiⱡki na ʔamak—Our people care for the land; the land cares for our people.

We appreciate your understanding and ask any groups harvesting or planning to harvest this resource to stop immediately. 

Any future harvesting (2027 and beyond) may be considered on a case-by-case basis, as long as those seeking access obtain written permission of the Ktunaxa Nation Council well in advance.

ʔayut is also known as Canby’s Lovage, Lingusticum canbyi. It is often incorrectly referred to as “bear root,” “bear’s root,” or “osha root.” It has a limited range in ɁamakɁis Ktunaxa and is absent from many other territories in Canada. It is a sacred cultural medicine, which is crucial for the health and well-being of Ktunaxa communities.

ʔayut patches were damaged by destructive harvesting in previous years as commercial groups visited the area to dig out the roots, haul them away and sell them. Patches takes many years to regenerate to a ‘ready-to-harvest’ state.

Ktunaxa ʔa·knusti, land guardians, assessed some of the most-disturbed areas from 2025 and report that the plants are still recovering from overharvesting.

In 2025, up to 50 people from outside the homelands were found harvesting in certain areas on any given day, tearing up the ground, disturbing plant communities, and leaving litter behind.

These practices threaten the health of the plant community, introduce invasive species, and go against harvesting protocol in Ktunaxa territory.

To express interest in harvesting plants in ʔamakʔis Ktunaxa in 2027, please email [email protected].

Ktunaxa Nation images

Ktunaxa Nation Council

Article Share