Plants

Over thousands of years, the Gwich’in have used a variety of trees, shrubs and berries for food, medicine, shelter and tools. Knowledge of this plant use has seriously declined in recent years.

In 1997, GSCI began work with Gwich’in elders on an ethnobotany project to record the use of this traditional knowledge in partnership with the Aurora Research Institute (ARI). The results of this research are available in a joint publication called “Gwich’in Ethnobotany: Plants Used by the Gwich’in for Food, Medicine, Shelter and Tools” by Alestine Andre and Alan Fehr.

The book highlights the use of 32 plants and 3 types of rocks and minerals. Information includes the Gwich'in names for these plants (in both the Gwichya Gwich'in and Teetł’it Gwich'in dialects), where they are found, and how they can be used. Several recipes for making medicine and preparing food are also included. Black and white and colour photographs illustrate the text.

Information from this book and a Master’s thesis by Alestine Andre (2006) called, Nan t’aih nakwits'inahtsìh (The Land Gives Us Strength) have been used to create our Gwich’in ethnobotany database. This database contains cultural knowledge about 43 plants traditionally used by the Gwich’in and is searchable by plant types and uses. You can click on any of the categories to the left to filter the records, or click on “By Type” or “By Uses” above to bring up all categories.

Please note that the plant information provided in this website is NOT a medical guide and must not be used for medical advice or self-medication. DO NOT USE any parts of a plant if you are not certain about the plant’s identity or its medicinal use. Please seek the advice of a local medicine plant specialist for plant information.

Plant database credits

Gwich’in Plant Specialists – Ruth Welsh & Alestine Andre biographies


Alestine Andre
Categories: By Uses, Medicine, By Type, Flowering Plants
As medicine
The leaves or the roots of the dock plant are used to make a tea to wash skin ailments. Ruth Welsh said,
Dock is…used...
Ital Katz
Categories: Medicine, By Type, Flowering Plants
As medicine
The leaves of the tall fireweed and dwarf fireweed are chewed and applied to bee stings and bites.
Source: Andre, Alestine, Nan t'...
Alestine Andre
Categories: By Uses, Food, Medicine, By Type, Flowering Plants
As food
The pink flowers of the fireweed plant are edible and can be mixed in with jello and salads. In the spring, the new shoots can be cooked like asparagus...
Ital Katz
Categories: Medicine, By Type, Flowering Plants
As medicine
The whole larkspur plant, purple in color, is used to make a tea for washing people's hair when they have lice. The whole...
Ital Katz
Categories: By Uses, Medicine, By Type, Flowering Plants

As medicine

The leaves of the plantain plant are made into a poultice as a painkiller for cuts and bruises and the above ground part of the plant is made into a tea...

Alestine Andre, GSCI
Categories: By Uses, Food, Medicine, By Type, Flowering Plants

As food

The picking time for this plant lasts only about two weeks. The rhubarb plant is ready to eat in mid-June when it is about 20 to 25 centimeters tall (eight...

Ital Katz
Categories: By Uses, Medicine, By Type, Flowering Plants
As medicine
The silverweed plant is used to heal cuts or sores. It is a coagulant like the yarrow plant. Ruth said,
It thickens the...
Ingrid Kritsch, GSCI
Categories: By Uses, Medicine, By Type, Flowering Plants

As medicine

Ruth Welsh’s mother taught her to use wintergreen or large-flowered wintergreen for pain. The leaves of this plant can be used all winter. Ruth said,...

Leslie Main Johnson
Categories: By Uses, Insect Repellent, Medicine, By Type, Flowering Plants
As medicine
The wormwood plant is used to treat a congested chest and to clear a stuffy head or stuffy nose. The plant is very aromatic. For steaming...
James McCormick
Categories: By Uses, Medicine, By Type, Flowering Plants

As medicine

The boiled liquid from this plant has many medicinal uses. The whole plant including the white flowers can be boiled to make a tea that provides relief...

Pages