Production of Native Plant Sets as Economic Development for the Kalispel Tribe

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Many rural Native American communities suffer high rates of chronic disease related to contemporary diets, including the Kalispel Tribe. Native bulbs originally used as staples in these communities, are scarce due to the loss of indigenous ways of life and traditional uses of native lands. Phase I research will determine whether or not the dormancy period of native bulbs can be shortened and which plant media produce the largest and healthiest bulbs. These results will be a foundation for Phase II when we will optimize water and nutrient supply to the native plants (possibly using aquaculture effluent from tribal hatcheries, and investigating the use of aquaponics). We expect the combination of these parameters will secure the successful commercialization of these bulbs in Phase III and contribute to the health and well being of the Kalispel. Another beneficiary of our research will be the scientific-horticultural community.