This week at Cadotte Lake School, students headed into the boreal forest on a special mission — to learn how to identify, harvest, and understand the traditional uses of willow fungus. Guided by local knowledge and cultural teachings, the students became explorers, researchers, and keepers of traditional medicine.
What is Willow Fungus?
Willow fungus grows on injured willow trees in moist areas. Its bright white color with touches of brown makes it easy to spot once you know what to look for. When removed, it often leaves behind a beautiful diamond-shaped pattern on the bark.
But its importance goes far beyond how it looks.
Willow fungus has been used for generations as medicine, smudge, and ceremonial aid. The smoke is known to help with headaches, nervousness, and anxiety. The steeped (but not consumed!) tea can be used as drops for earaches, and the dried fungus works as a natural mosquito repellant when lit.
It’s powerful, it’s gentle — and it’s been here all along.
Learning Through Experience
Out in the forest, students learned to move carefully through the trees, to pay attention to the landscape, and to recognize the signs of where fungus might grow. There was laughter, discovery, and plenty of teamwork.
Each student got hands-on experience identifying fungus, harvesting it respectfully, and discussing how it can be dried and stored for future use.
Back at the school, the group reflected on how something that looks so simple can carry so much cultural and healing knowledge.
Why It Matters
For many of our students, this wasn’t just about science or tradition — it was about connection.
Connection to the land. Connection to cultural teachings. Connection to each other.
This kind of learning builds pride, awareness, and respect for the gifts found in the natural world around us.
Sometimes the greatest lessons come not from books, but from the forest.
Willow fungus taught us that healing can grow quietly on the side of a tree — and that when we listen, the land has stories to tell.
Let’s keep exploring. Let’s keep learning. And let’s keep walking gently on the path our ancestors laid out before us.
