Introduction -- All native knowledge is local -- The plants

The belief that all life-forms are interconnected and share the same breath-- known in the Raramuri tribe as iwigara-- has resulted in a treasury of knowledge about the natural world, passed down for millennia by native cultures. Salmon, an ethnobotanist, builds on this concept of connection and highlights plants revered by North America's indigenous peoples. He teaches us the ways plants are used as food and medicine, the details of their identification and harvest, their important health benefits, plus their role in traditional stories and myths. From ash to yucca, you'll discover how the timeless wisdom of iwigara can enhance your own kinship with the natural world. -- adapted from back cover