The Wenatchi Tribes calendar was based on a seasonal cycle, Spring time (March) the Balsamroot or sunflower, Smokakhin, appeared in March and the tender shoots and bulbs were gathered to be eaten raw.
Arrowleaf balsamroot was being used for food and medicine by the Native Americans.
All parts of the plant are edible. Leaves were eaten raw, boiled or steamed. The long taproot was steamed or roasted and was often ground into meal. The seeds, similar to those of the sunflower, were roasted and pounded into meal. As a medicinal plant arrowleaf balsamroot helped relieve the pain of burns, wounds and bruises. The root was made into a tea and used to treat medicinally.
