By Uses

High-bush cranberry

As medicine

The leaves of the high-bush cranberry plant are crushed and applied to relieve bee-stings and burns.

Source: Andre, Alestine, Nan t'aih nakwits'inahtsìh (The Land Gives Us Strength) (2006)

English

Bladderwort

As medicine:

Either the leaves or the whole bladderwort plant including the roots are made into a tea to treat kidney or bladder infection. The bladderwort and the horsetail plant are used in the same way for bladder ailments. Ruth usually makes her bladderwort tea strong but dilutes it before drinking it. Ruth said,

English

Blueberry

As food

Blueberries are tasty and can be eaten as is or used in jams, pies, muffins, and it’suh, a Gwich’in dessert made from pounded dry fish. As a medicinal tea, the stems and leaves of the blueberry plant can be boiled and taken for cold symptoms.

Source: Andre, Alestine and Alan Fehr, Gwich'in Ethnobotany, 2nd ed. (2002)
 

 ​As medicine

English

Water lily, Yellow pond lily

As medicine:

The roots of the water lily plant are dried and used to relieve a dry throat or the onset of a cold. Ruth Welsh said,

"...you only take small little tiny pieces."

The roots are also used to ease a sore back. Ruth describes how to make this,

…cut a piece off [the main root]…a foot or a foot and a half long…heat the root….split the root and put it on each of [the] back and tie [it in place].

Source: Andre, Alestine, Nan t'aih nakwits'inahtsìh (The Land Gives Us Strength) (2006)

English

Bearberry (bird’s eye)

As food

The edible berries of this low-growing plant are similar to red currants. The red, shiny berries are juicy but sour. Ruth Welsh and Mary Kendi say if you do not have any water these berries and cranberries will quench your thirst. Alfred Semple recommends adding these berries to pemmican (caribou or moose meatballs).

Source: Andre, Alestine and Alan Fehr, Gwich'in Ethnobotany, 2nd ed. (2002)
English

Blackberry

As food 

The berries are edible and make good jam. They are ready to pick in August and September and are tasty when eaten as is or eaten with other berries. Blackberries can be mixed with cranberries and added to it’suh, a Gwich’in dessert made from pounded dryfish.

Blackberries and Fish

English

Black currant

As food

Although not commonly found in the Gwich’in Settlement Region, the black berries of this plant are strong tasting and usually are picked for food in late summer. They make good jam. A tea can also be made using dried leaves and berries. In the winter, the stems can be collected and made into a tea.

 

Source: Andre, Alestine and Alan Fehr, Gwich'in Ethnobotany, 2nd ed. (2002)

English

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