Gyetk: Coastal Fusion and Ancestral Knowledge from a Ts'msyen Kitchen

Engage in the natural gifts of the Pacific Northwest Coast through 60 nourishing recipes that feature traditional Ts'msyen foods, ancestral knowledge, land-based stories, and ecological wisdom.

Gyetk (pronounced gy-e-tk and meaning "to feed the people") immerses readers into the rich food traditions, knowledge, and relationships that have sustained the Ts'msyen (Tsimshian) people for millennia along the Pacific Northwest Coast. Drawing from the authors' lived experiences practicing a land-based lifestyle, as well as their backgrounds in Indigenous food sovereignty, health and well-being, and cultural research, Gyetk weaves together modern culinary fusion, traditional knowledge, and scholarly insight. Through 60 beautifully photographed recipes, the book follows the Ts'msyen seasonal round, weaving together ancestral foodways, traditional ecological knowledge, dietetic perspectives, and thoughtful harvesting practices--inviting readers to feast in relationship with the natural world.

Inside Gyetk, you'll discover:

• An introduction to the Ts'msyen people and a food philosophy grounded in relationship with the land and waters
• An extensive guide to traditional foods, including seaweed, salmon, nettles, venison, halibut, clams, cockles, berries, hazelnuts, and more
• 60 delicious recipes inspired by both traditional ingredients and contemporary Pacific Northwest Coast cuisine
• Seasonal teachings rooted in traditional ecological knowledge
• Practical harvesting, preservation, and fermentation insights
• Essential pantry ingredients for cooking with Pacific Northwest Coast foods
• Stunning food and landscape photography throughout
• A dietitian's perspective on key nutrients, food systems, and the importance of being in relationship with ones' food system.

As readers prepare meals in rhythm with the seasons, they will gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural, ecological, and nutritional significance of Indigenous foods. Alongside recipes, Gyetk offers guidance for cooking with a land-based ethos--encouraging ethical harvesting, mindful consumption, and the use of whole ingredients to reduce food waste. Rooted in reciprocity, respect, and relationship, Gyetk offers a journey toward nourishing both people and place.

Author: Rachel Greening,Spencer Greening
Publisher: Wellfleet Press
Published: 09/22/2026
Pages: 260
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 2.06lbs
Size: 9.45h x 8.26w x 1.03d
ISBN: 9781577155560


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 10/01/2026 pg. 39

About the Author
Rachel Greening (Sag̱u Ts'imuu Ssgyiik) was born and raised in Ts'msyen territory in Prince Rupert, B.C. She is Ts'msyen from Lax Kw'alaams of the Gispaxlo'ots Tribe, Eagle clan, and Cantonese. Through her personal, processional, academic and life, Rachel is deeply engaged in Indigenous food sovereignty and traditional food systems. As a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator, Rachel works alongside many First Nations, including Ts'msyen and nuučaan̓ul Nations, supporting diabetes care through relational approaches that centre culture, community, and traditional foods. Her PhD in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia has focused on Indigenous food sovereignty, health and well-being, social justice, and the revitalization of traditional food systems.

Spencer Greening (La'goot) is Ts'msyen, and a member of the Gitga'at First Nation. As a trained anthropologist, he has spent his entire adult life working in cultural research, with an emphasis on Traditional Ecological Knowledge, in his community. He is currently a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Victoria, conducting research on Indigenous harvesting methods and ecological laws, and where these practices coincide with environmental stewardship today. In addition to this, he facilitates land-based food sovereingty workshops with youth in coastal communities. When not conducting research, he is spending as much time as he can on the lands and waters harvesting with his family and Elders.