Ktunaxa Nation Urges Public to Stop Unauthorized Harvesting of Sacred ʔayut Plant in B.C

Southeastern B.C., August 21 — The Ktunaxa Nation has called on the public to stop harvesting a traditional medicinal plant, ʔayut (Canby’s lovage), after reports of unauthorized collection and damage to sensitive patches in its territory.

The Ktunaxa Nation, made up of five First Nations across southeastern British Columbia, says land guardians have found people tearing up the ground to extract the plant without consent. The nation’s traditional territory covers about 70,000 square kilometres across B.C.’s Interior, stretching into Alberta, Montana, Idaho, and Washington.

Kathryn Teneese, chair of the Ktunaxa Nation Council, told CBC Radio West that ʔayut holds both medicinal and cultural significance.
“Any kind of resource extraction without our knowledge and our permission is not something that is acceptable,” Teneese said.

The plant, also known in English as Canby’s lovage, has long been used by Indigenous peoples across western North America. Its roots are traditionally prepared as teas for colds, coughs, and respiratory infections, and applied externally to treat wounds, aches, and skin problems.

The Ktunaxa Nation says that while traditional Indigenous protocol involves sharing medicine freely within communities, unauthorized harvesting is now being driven by commercial demand. Businesses have been removing the plant “by the trailer load” and selling it online, the council warned.

“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 2025,” the council stated.

The nation added that harvesting in 2026 may be considered under strict cultural protocols, requiring written approval from the Ktunaxa Nation Council well in advance.

The B.C. Ministry of Forests acknowledged the issue, noting that there is currently no provincial legislation regulating the collection of non-timber forest products, leaving no legal enforcement mechanism in place.

Teneese emphasized that ʔayut is integral to the Ktunaxa identity and must not be commercialized for profit: “This plant has always been part of who we are as a people, and it must be protected.”