Coltsfoot:
| Scientific Name
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Related Terms
|
Koyukon Name
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Koyukon Root
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KAD Page
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Notes on Translation
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Use Information
|
Petasites hyperboreus
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kkaalbedze
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bets1
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101
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Lit. 'spread out foot'
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Low growing, found on hillsides, and eaten by bears --Jetté
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Petasites frigidus
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Petasites hyperboreus
Petasites frigidus
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Calla:
| Scientific Name
|
Related Terms
|
Koyukon Name
|
Koyukon Root
|
KAD Page
|
Notes on Translation
|
Use Information
|
Calla palustris
|
wild calla
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bekenaal baabe'
|
baabe
|
79
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Lit. 'beaver's food'; 'moose's food'
|
Kwaraceius - "Refers to fleshy rhizome of yellow pond lilly (Nuphar polysepalum) as well as wild calla." "Commonly called the root of yellow pond lily, which is edible, whereas that of wild calla is poisonous to humans."
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taah ggoldzeede'
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dzeet
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168
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Lit. 'water ball'
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Kwaraceius - "Refers to the ball-like spadix (cluster of flowers) in the early summer, and to the berries later."
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root of wild calla
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taah ts'edone
|
don2
|
147
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Lit. 'underwater food'
Also refers to yellow pond lily rather than wild calla root
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Calla palustris
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Broom-rape:
| Scientific Name
|
Related Terms
|
Koyukon Name
|
Koyukon Root
|
KAD Page
|
Notes on Translation
|
Use Information
|
Boschniakia rossica
|
poque
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dotson' ggooneegge'
|
tson'
|
644
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Lit. 'raven pipe'
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Jones - "A plant with hollow stem used as a tube."
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dotson' ch'echene'
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Boschniakia rossica
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Bluebell:
| Scientific Name
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Related Terms
|
Koyukon Name
|
Koyukon Root
|
KAD Page
|
Notes on Translation
|
Use Information
|
Mertensia paniculata
|
lungwort
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ggaał lodelyaaye
|
ggaał
|
200
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Lit. 'those which are put in the king salmon's throat (mouth)'
|
Jetté - "They all seem to allude to a practice of putting the bluebell plant in the king salmon's mouth. No description of the custom could be obtained. The practice, as well as the various names, are entirely unknown to the upper tribe."
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ggaał laagge zelaaye
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ggaał laagge nodelyaaye
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ggaał dzaaye'
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Mertensia paniculata
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noolaagh dzaaye'
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dzaayh2
|
165
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Lit. 'dog salmon's heart' or 'king salmon's heart'
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ggaał dzaaye'
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Mertensia paniculata or Valeriana capitata
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unidentified bluebell or valerian
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łookk'e lo daaldloye
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lo2
|
404
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unidentified plant that grows on the edge of lakes, possibly bluebell or valerian
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Jones - "This is burned under a fishnet so that smoke drifts through the meshes to rid the net of bad luck."
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Mertensia paniculata
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Equisetum:
| Scientific Name
|
Related Terms
|
Koyukon Name
|
Koyukon Root
|
KAD Page
|
Notes on Translation
|
Use Information
|
Equisetum sp.
|
goose grass
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huh ggoodle'
|
huh
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263
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Lit. 'goose's rhubarb'
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nodule of the equisetum, "water berry"
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deeltsaa' baabe'
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tsaa'1
|
617
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Lit. 'vole's food'
Also a generic term for mushroom
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Equisetum sp.
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Ash:
| Scientific Name
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Related Terms
|
Koyukon Name
|
Koyukon Root
|
KAD Page
|
Notes on Translation
|
Use Information
|
Sorbus scopulina
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mountain ash
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dekenh ts'ot'eeye
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t'aa01
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541
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Lit. 'wood that is evil'
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Jetté - "Evil wood, a species of elder, having a voluminous light pith, and exhaling a rather strong odor of prussic acid. Grows to about six feet, the shoots clustering from one root. It is credited with special virtues to drive away the devils, more particularly those that cause sickness and most of all the denaa gheneede. It exposes however those who come in contact with it to the bane of the tleedotole. An old woman is generally the gatherer, and before cutting the twigs she lays some presents at the root, and makes apologies for the liberty which she is about to take, pleading the urgent necessity and the gheno kk'aat. The branches are brought to the camp and boiled in water, the decoction being used either as a potion or as a lotion. This remedy is used almost exclusively for children, and as a last resort, when all other measures have failed."
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Sambucus racemosa
|
red elder
|
ł
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Kwaraceius - "Jetté's descriptions, including the strong smell and the pithy wood, fit elder Sambucus racemosa (Jetté offered the same genus name). However, its northernmost range is around the southern border of Denali Park. Mountain ash, Sorbus scopulina, is a plant that superficially resembles elder. It ranges through much of the Koyukon Athabaskan area. However, it does not match Jetté's descriptions. Though both plants are used for medicinal and food purposes, one must exercise caution using them. The prussic acid in elder is poisonous and is found in almost all parts of the plant. However, the cooked, deseeded berries are edible and are used to make jams and jellies."
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Sambucus racemosa Sorbus scopulina |
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Crowberry:
Scientific Name
|
Related Terms
|
Koyukon Name
|
Koykon Root
|
KAD Page
|
Notes on Translation
|
Use Information
|
Empetrum nigrum
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deenaałt' aas
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Described from Nelson not in KAD
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Nelson - "Eaten when it is found in mountain areas, the crowberry is said to be helpful in relieving thirst."
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Empetrum nigrum
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Spruce:
| Scientific Name
|
Related Terms
|
Koyukon Name
|
Koyukon Root
|
KAD Page
|
Notes on Translation
|
Use Information
|
Picea glauca
or
Picea mariana
|
spruce tree or forest
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ts'ebaa
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baa4::ts'ebaa
|
77
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Nelson gives ts'ibaa as the name for Picea glauca and ts'ibaa t'aal as Picea mariana. He also notes specific words used for spruce that is dry, half-dry or green.
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Sullivan - Spruce is used green as end pieces of canoe frame.
In The Ten'a Food Quest there is an extensive description of spruce used along with willow in the construction of basket traps for fishing.
Used in making the "hi'o" pole for the traditional stick dance to honor the dead.
Nelson - The Koyukon origin story for spruce tells about a woman who heard a tale that was so sad and terrible that she began to cry and pinch her skin. She was transformed into a spruce tree and her bark remained pinched and rough.
Nelson - White spruce is the principle source for firewood and building materials for a variety of items such as houses, boats, canoes, caches, tent frames, etc.
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golden-colored spruce tree
|
udle deneł
|
utl1
|
70
|
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Picea glauca
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a variety of white spruce with golden needles
|
eł doyonh
|
eł3
|
35
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dried spruce branch
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k'etloo' ggunh
|
tloo
|
584
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Nelson - Used as a toggle to attach to traps
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fresh spruce gum, pitch
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dzaah tl'eyh
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dzaakk2
|
161
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Sullivan - Used for boat repair
Nelson - Clear sap is used to disinfect sore.
Hard yellowish pitch is used as chewing gum.
Can be mixed with fat to make a varnish.
"..formerly burned in shamanistic curing session, yielding spiritual power from the spruce."
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tl'eyh
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605
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hardwood of spruce or birch
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ggʉyh
|
ggʉyh1
|
224
|
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Nelson - Used in making woven traps to harvest otter
Used for making scow sleds (esp. Bettles area) and "gee poles."
On pages 142-144 of Tracks in the Wildland, Nelson gives a description of using spruce wood to make a blackfish trap.
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red-colored, decayed spruce wood
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ch'etodeetluh
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tluh2
|
587
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spongy, rotten spruce
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nodooye tsone'
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dooy2
|
152
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Nelson - Combined with rotten "little tree" willow and is used to smoke hides. Combined in a ratio that is slightly more willow than spruce; use about a "medium-sized packsack" full to smoke two hides.
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spruce bough
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eł tloo'
|
tloo
|
584
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Sullivan - Used as bedding material for sled dogs and covering tent floors in camp
Used as roofing material in summer shelters
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spruce root
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hʉyh
|
hʉyh2
|
277
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Sullivan - Used as thread in sewing birch bark canoes and baskets
Nelson - Also notes that large, woody roots called k'aggaadla' are carved into spoons and bowls
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spruce bark
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Described from Nelson as k'ilot'oodza'
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Nelson - "The bark is peeled from green trees to make camp floors, roofs, and tops for fish cutting tables."
Clark - Describes the construction of a traditional spruce bark house in "Koyukuk River Culture"
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spruce cone
|
dekeldegheyhtl
|
gheyhtl::degheyhtl
|
247
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Clark - "...if food supplies were low...the 'nuts' from the spruce cones were used as food supplements."
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delojodzee
|
jots
|
194
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spruce needle
|
eł begge'
|
eł3
|
35
|
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Jetté - Needles are used to make a tea for use in a blood-letting ceremony.
Nelson - "The needles are boiled and the resulting infusion is drunk to cure kidney problems or to obtain spirit power from the spruce. This may also be applied to heal dry skin or sores."
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eł tlenok'oodle'
|
k'ootl3
|
318
|
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top of spruce tree
|
ts'ebaa loyet
|
baa4::ts'ebaa
|
77
|
|
Nelson - "The tops are cut from small trees and carried for spiritual protection in certain places."
Previously used in shamanistic practices to treat a sick individual.
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Picea glauca
Picea glauca - cones
Picea mariana
|
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Grass:
| Scientific Name
|
Related Terms
|
Koyukon Name
|
Koyukon Root
|
KAD Page
|
Notes on Translation
|
Use Information
|
Family Graminae
|
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k'etsaan'
|
tsaan'
|
619
|
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Families Cyperaceae, Graminae, Juncaceae
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sedge, wide grass, rush
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tl'uh
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tl'uh
|
616
|
According to Jetté, commonly used for Equisetum, but term is also applied to the various kinds of sedges
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Eriophorum sp.
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cotton grass
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dechedzee
|
kuts
|
306
|
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Family Graminae
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dry grass, hay, straw
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k'etsaan' tsedze
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tsaan'
|
620
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Nelson - Used a floor covering in winter shelters.
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Family Graminae
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fine grass
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k'etsaan' lusge
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tsaan'
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619
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fine grass used as duffel
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kkaa yee daaldloye
|
kkaa8
|
323
|
Lit. 'that which is in footwear'
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Alopercus aequalis
|
foxtail grass
|
łeechaa'
|
łee3
|
389
|
Lit. 'dog tail'
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Hippuris vulgaris
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mare's tail, goose grass
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dets'en baabe'
|
baabe
|
79
|
Lit. 'goose's food'
|
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grass of the tussocks
|
nokenyaał tlooghe'
|
yaał
|
679
|
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Family Graminae
|
flower of grasses
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k'etsaan' delodoge'
|
tsaan'
|
619
|
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Jetté - "It is collected from the plants, and burnt in sacrifices to the spirits of dead shamans."
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Jones - "It is food for the spirits of the dead."
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grass-top
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delodoge'
|
do*
|
143
|
Lit. 'that which stays on limb'
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Jetté - Beard or awn of the grain of grass.
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horsetail, jointed grass
|
hodolgheoge'
|
ghon1
|
254
|
Lit. 'that which is customarily connected together'
|
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k'etsaan' ghoge'
|
ghon1
|
254
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Jetté - "Rush, bulrush, reed; some tall and slender species grow in the marshes and lakes."
|
Urtica gracilus
|
sedge, flat-leaved grass with sharp edges, stinging nettle
|
k'etsaan' kk'oge'
|
kk'ok2
|
363
|
In Lower dialect it refers to stinging nettle and speakers use tl'uh when referring to sedge
|
Jetté - "The fibers of the nettle were formerly used to make cords and coarse thread."
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Carex sp.
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Refers to sedge in other dialects and stinging nettle becomes hʉłts'eege
|
Attla - "This is a lake grass, and it is the strongest kind of grass."
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shiny green grass in lakes, meadow, lawns
|
tl'uh tl'eyh kkokk'e
|
tl'eyh
|
605
|
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unidentified grass in lakes, possibly bulrush
|
denaakkaatl'oh deltudle
|
totl2
|
532
|
Lit. 'that which pops beneath our feet'
|
Attla - "It makes a popping noise when we walk on it in the late fall. Goose eat it but only when it is new growth."
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| By creation date
