Lewis and Clark Historic Trail Interpretive Center Plants

The Blackfeet name of bitterroot is Aik Sik Ksi Ksi, translating to “white root.” Bitterroot is exclusively found in the west, and the Blackfeet people believe that the Creator gave this plant to their people as an important plant of many uses. More . . . .

The Blackfeet word for the all-yellow variety of blanketflower is Ok Skoih Tsi, translating to yellow blanket; the name is derived from the beautiful yellow blanket that is formed when many of these flowers bloom over large swaths of prairie. More . . . .

The Blackfeet name for dotted gayfeather is Mais Stu Nii Taa, translating to crow foot. The root of this plant is still used to cure stomach aches and occasionally eaten as a food. A tea is brewed to help liver, kidney, and bladder ailments. More . . . .

The Blackfeet name for blue grama grass is Koot Okia Apinann. Blackfeet tradition holds that there are only two seasons, winter and summer. Before almanacs and Gregorian calendars, the Blackfeet observed the behaviors of plants, flowers, trees, and animals to predict weather patterns for the coming seasons. These behaviors and relationships of living things with the land can be charted in seasonal rounds, traditional ways of knowing the seasonal changes. More . . . .

In the Blackfeet language, the word for chokecherry is Pak Kii p. The translation means ‘smashed,’ derived from the mashing method used most often to enjoy the fruits. Mashed chokecherries are a delicacy during early Spring ceremonies, around the turn of the New Year for the Blackfeet. Though the center seed is large, when mashed correctly, it can yield a tasty, softened mixture. The gathered, grape-like clusters make it easy to gather. More . . . .

The Blackfeet name for yarrow is Aux Tok Soo Ki. It translates to ‘pine stem’ or ‘gopher tail.’ By manner of tea, dried, or fresh, the yarrow plant traditionally has many Blackfeet medicinal uses, such as acting as a hemostatic. The flower bud is used to numb a toothache. In conjunction with other plants, ailments such as colds, lung congestion, burns, earaches, boils, sores, and diarrhea. Yarrow also is used to ward off insects such as mosquitoes. More . . . .

The Blackfeet name for gumweed is Ak Spii. The translation means ‘sticky head,’ which comes from the sticky sap excreted by the flower’s bracts. The traditional medicinal uses treat colds, influenza, lung congestion, bronchitis, asthma, and headaches and as a sleep aid. Much of the medicinal uses are taken as tea, or from chewing the dried leaves. More . . . .

The Blackfeet name for blue flex is Aa Pinii Sinii. It translates to ‘morning opens, closes in evening’ after the nature of the flowers opening and closing each night, and symbolizes giving good day greetings. The strong, flexible stems of this flower are used to braid ropes, lines, and used to tie or wrap items that needed to be held together. More . . . .

The Blackfeet name for prickly pear cactus is Otah Koot Tsis. It translates to ‘yellow guts,’ an ode to the inner flesh of the cactus. In order to reach the insides of the cactus, the Blackfeet burn the spikes off, which are carefully avoided as they easily could puncture the soles of moccasins. Though the plant was typically only eaten in times of scarcity, the inner part of the plant is nutritive and quenches thirst. More . . . .

The Blackfeet name for rubber rabbitbrush is A Aat Tis Sta Otsi Piis. It translates to ‘rabbit willow.’ The plant was used as feed for horses, and the heads of the flowers can be turned into a yellow dye, most often used for painting rawhide suitcases, called parfleches, shields, or cylinders. More . . . .

The Blackfeet name for silver buffaloberry is Mii K Sinit Tsii Ma. It translates to ‘red bull berry’, which persists as an alternative common name for this plant today. These berries are collected after the first frost, which sweetens the bitter-tasting fruits and enhances the flavor. The traditional method of harvesting these berries is through a process given by Napi, or the Old Man: a hide is placed under the bush, and in order to prevent scratches from the thorn of the plant, the bush is hit repeatedly with a stick. This causes berries to fall into the hide, which are then collected for various uses. More . . . .

The Blackfeet name for silver sage is Aapa Ot Toyi Tsi. It translates to ‘white rush.’ It is one of the most aromatic sages on the prairie. The seeds of silver sage are used on occasion as a food source, raw or dried out, though the taste is bitter and pungent. More . . . .

The Blackfeet name for snakeweed is Opet At Sapiiaa. It translates to “used as a medicine to heal the bite of a snake.” Traditionally, gumweed is used as a tea, inhalant, or topical for a multitude of ailments, such as dehydration, diarrhea, warts, styes, allergies, colds, coughs, high blood pressure, skin conditions, and stress. The strong stems of the root can be chewed and applied as a topical to wounds, muscle aches, or abdominal pain. It also was used traditionally to assist in milk production for lactating mothers. More . . . .

The Blackfeet name for soapweed yucca is Aik Sik Koo Ki. It translates to ‘sharp plant’ after the plant’s appearance and the pointed tips of the leaves. Traditionally used most often as a tea or a poultice for both human and horse ailments. Applying chewed roots to sprains, breaks, bleeding cuts, or saddle sores on horses all were uses of the plant as a poultice. Horses upon their reintroduction to the continent quickly became highly respected, valued, and honored as wealth by the Blackfeet. A steam of soapweed yucca was sometimes given to horses. It also was used as a hair tonic and soap due to the soap-like qualities of the plant. More . . . .

The Blackfeet name for prairie coneflower is A Okspii Yi Pisats Sais Ski. It translates to ‘sticky headed flower.’ From a traditional medicinal standpoint, prairie coneflower is often drunk in a tea to treat eye problems, sore nipples from nursing, indigestion, and to slow hair loss. It is dried and stored for use in the winter months. For horses, the plant was applied to saddle sores. A yellow or orange dye can be created from the head of the flower. More . . . .

The Blackfeet name for serviceberry is Okonoke, and is the single most important plant to the Blackfeet people. Gathered in abundance every year, the shrub has many uses, though its most prevalent use is as a food. The berries, high in vitamins and minerals, are used to make berry soup. Ceremonies can only be held when berry soup is present. It is dried and stored for winter use. When the berries are ripe, it is an indicator that the time is right for the Holy Ookaan, the Medicine Lodge. The juice of these ripe berries is often given to children. More . . . .

The Blackfeet name for western snowberry is Aa Pin Nii Kim. It translates to ‘ghost berry.’ The plant’s similar appearance to serviceberry earned it this name. More . . . .

The Blackfeet name for wild licorice is A Ah So Waa. It translates as ‘to grab’ or ‘to seize,’ derived from the way that the burrs of the plant cling to the skirts of the gatherer. Medicinally, wild licorice is traditionally used by the Blackfeet as an infusion to treat chest pains, swellings, coughs, and sore throats. More . . . .