August 13, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cranbrook, B.C. — The Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC) is giving notice on behalf of Ktunaxa
First Nations’ elected leaders, Elders, knowledge holders, and citizens, that harvesting ʔayut
by non-Ktunaxanin̓tik is not permitted for the rest of the 2025 calendar year in
ɁamakɁis Ktunaxa (Ktunaxa homelands).
ʔayut patches in have been damaged this season by overharvesting and destructive harvesting.
Several groups from outside ɁamakɁis Ktunaxa—including businesses who harvest without Ktunaxa consent,
then sell the plant online—have extracted trailer loads of ʔayut to haul back
to other territories.
“ʔayut is a sacred cultural medicine,” said Kathryn Teneese, Ktunaxa Nation Council Chair.
“It’s crucial for the health and well-being of Ktunaxa communities. Our obligation is to steward
our unceded territory. Any resource extraction without the consent of our Nation is culturally
insensitive and disrespectful. Commercial harvesting of cultural medicine plants is forbidden.”
Teneese noted that up to 50 people from outside the homelands were found harvesting in certain
areas on any given day, and that harvesting has been both constant this season, and more intensive than in past years.
Ktunaxa Nation ʔa·knusti (land guardians) have encountered groups tearing up the ground to get the plant.
ʔa·knusti have also found broken shovels and other implements dumped next to large areas of disturbed soil.
These practices threaten the health of the plant community, introduce invasive species, and go against harvesting protocol in Ktunaxa territory.
“ʔayut takes many years to regenerate to a ‘ready-to-harvest’ state,” Teneese said. “Overharvesting could put this plant at risk in ɁamakɁis Ktunaxa.”
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.”
ʔayut has a limited range in ɁamakɁis Ktunaxa and is absent from many other territories in Canada.
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 2025.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 in this matter and request any groups harvesting this resource to stop immediately.
Any future harvesting (2026 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.To learn more, please email aknusti@ktunaxa.org
0000 Info Sheet Ban on ayut harvest August 13 2025
