The name of the valley and the community come from the abundance of Camassia growing in the area; it was an important food source for the local Native Americans.
A pit-cooked camas bulb looks and tastes something like baked sweet potato, but sweeter, and with more crystalline fibers due to the presence of inulin in the bulbs.
The name alludes to the great similarity of appearance between these toxic plants, which were formerly classified together in the genus Zigadenus, and the edible camases (Camassia), with which they also often share habitat.
Camas bulbs, coming from a widespread flowering plant in the basin, was their primary staple throughout the year.
Kalispel is thought to mean "camas people", referring to the roots that provided their primary food.
Camassia |
Wildflowers found in the Goose Lake Valley area include Common Yarrow, Camas, Larkspur, Elephant-head flower, Blazing Star, and Crane Orchids.
Mild sweeteners such as fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium), camas bulb (Camassia quamash) or sweet berries such as salal berries (Gaultheria shallon), or thimbleberries (Rubus parviflorus) are occasionally added.