PENAWEN - MOON OF THE CAMAS HARVEST (May)

This moon is the moon of the camas harvest. It is time to dig KLO,EL (camas). The earth is warming. The camas bulb illustration is shown on the cheek of the moon and in the palm of his hand. The blue plant with the bulb underneath the ground is the whole camas plant.

CONNECTIONS AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION

May derives its name from Majores, the Roman goddess of Spring. This is also the 'month of Mary' for those of the Roman Catholic Faith. During the PEN'AWEN moon the Saanich Peoples travelled to family locations to harvest camas bulbs (KLO,EL), which were the source of starch in their diet. This was a cherished time for the people of Saanich - it marked the time when they could begin travelling through their territory again.

WEATHER

Days are evenings are warm and rain is less frequent.

ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

Saanich families had traditional territorial grounds (land and water), which were used at various times of the year. Most families left their Winter villages for Spring camps. Visits to the camas plots served two purposes: (1) to harvest the blue camas bulb; and (2) to gather the fresh gull eggs found in the camas fields. White camas is poisonous and was not harvested.

In this season both XIWE (purple sea urchins) and SQITI (green sea urchins) were collected and eaten as well.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT