Alaska Native Knowledge Network Resources for compiling and exchanging information related to Alaska Native knowledge systems and ways of knowing.

Koyukon Plant Database

Search full text

• Browse by alphabet
• Browse by category
   
• Browse by date

All Categories

All Categories Not categorised Alder Algae Artemesia Ash Aspen Baneberry Bearberry Birch Bluebells Blueberry Broom-rape Calla Carrot Celery Chives Chokeberry Cloudberry Coltsfoot Commandra Cottonwood Cow Parsely Cranberry Crowberry Currant Dogwood Equisetum Fireweed Forget-Me-Not Grass Hemlock Hudson Bay Tea Indian Potato Iris Juniper Kinnikinnick Larch Lichen Lily Lungwort Marestail Moss Nagoonberry Nettle Potentilla Raspberry Rhubarb Rose Salmonberry Spruce Valerian Willow Wintergreen

---

Page:  1  2  3  4  5  6  (Next)
  ALL

ALDER

Alder : Scientific Name Related Terms Koyukon Name Koyukon Root KAD Page Notes on Translation Use Information Alnus sp. kk'es kk'es 357 Nelson ties this to Alnus crispa Jetté - "The sap is used as a red stain for wood, moose skin and laftak." Sullivan - After a child is born, the afterbirth, placenta and membranes are tied in a bundle and hung from this tree to decay. Nelson - The Koyukon origin story for alder tells about a woman who heard a tale that was so sad and terrible that she began to cry and pinch her skin until it bled. She became the alder tree and this is why the alder's bark can be used to make red dye. kk'ʉykk'eze kk'ʉy3 372 Some discussion of term on KAD page 372 alder bark kk'es lot'oodze' kk'es 357 Nelson - Used to make reddish dye to color caribou skins and porcupine quills. Green bark is harvested in spring and allowed to dry, then soaked overnight in water or boiled. The bark and water are applied to stain the skin. alder catkins kk'es delodzoye' kk'es 357 Jetté - "...alder catkins are burnt in offerings to the spirits." alder stem kk’es dokkuł kkuł1 341 edible cone-like seed cases of red alder kk'es deloghe geege kk'es 358 Lit. 'alder branch berry' alder charcoal kk'es t'aaze' kk'es 357 Jetté - "Obtained by charring small branches, is applied to the umbilical cord of newborn infants. It is sprinkled on the stump and frequently renewed during the first days." Alnus tenuifolia Alnus sinuata

ALGAE

Algae : Scientific Name Related Terms Koyukon Name Koyukon Root KAD Page Notes on Translation Use Information any aquatic algae, free floating algae, floating moss dlot dlot1 156 Jetté - "An aquatic plant resembling a lichen without any apparent differentiated organs, floating as a gelatinous mass on lakes and slow streams." reddish-brown algae tokkotluh tluh1 586 Lit. 'mushy substance on water surface' Jetté - "Aquatic plant, probably an algae, moss-like, found floating in rusty brown filament, sometimes collected in lump-like masses, very soft and almost gelatinous." underwater algae taahdlode' dlot1 156 Jetté - "A sort of aquatic plant, of rich green color, moss-like, and of a gelatinous consistency. Found in lakes and slow streams."

ARTEMESIA

Artemesia : Scientific Name Related Terms Koyukon Name Koyukon Root KAD Page Notes on Translation Use Information Artemesia sp. sage tl’uh tsen tl’uh 616 Lit. 'fragrant grass'   wormwood         Artemesia tilesii stinkweed tl’enh benee ben5 98 Locally called stinkweed Artemisia tillesii

ASH

Ash : Scientific Name Related Terms Koyukon Name Koyukon Root KAD Page Notes on Translation Use Information Sorbus scopulina mountain ash dekenh ts'ot'eeye t'aa01 541 Lit. 'wood that is evil' 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." Sambucus racemosa red elder ł 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." Sambucus racemosa Sorbus scopulina

ASPEN

Aspen : Scientific Name Related Terms Koyukon Name Koyukon Root KAD Page Notes on Translation Use Information Populus tremuloides quaking aspen t'egheł kk'ooge gheł5 244 Lit. 'tiny cottonwood, little cottonwood' Nelson notes that aspen is used much in the same way as balsam poplar. t'egheł yoze small, dry standing aspen t'egheł zooze' soos 747 Lit. 'conical cottonwood' Populus tremuloides

BANEBERRY

Baneberry : Scientific Name Related Terms Koyukon Name Koyukon Root KAD Page Notes on Translation Use Information Actacea rubra nełtene ch'ejege' ten5 513 Lit. 'thunder berry' Actacea rubra

BEARBERRY

Bearberry : Scientific Name Related Terms Koyukon Name Koyukon Root KAD Page Notes on Translation Use Information Arctostaphylos alpina alpine bearberry geeze noghe' geeze 185 Lit. 'camprobber's eyes' Nelson - Stored in moose fat or grease, and mixed with fish, meat or oil before eating kinnikinnick Noted as a common name for geeze noghe' Arctostaphylos rubra red-fruited bearberry deneyh neyh 476 Nelson notes this also applies to Arctostaphylos alpina and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Jetté - "A berry resembling the haw, the fruit of the hawthorne, but round, not oblong and hardly ever over 3/8 inch in diameter. The natives collect it on hillsides, late in the fall, when it is still quite hard, and use it during winter, mostly in nonaałdlode. 'Indian ice cream'" Arctostaphylos alpina Arctostaphylos rubra

BIRCH

Birch : Scientific Name Related Terms Koyukon Name Koyukon Root KAD Page Notes on Translation Use Information Betula papyrifera paper birch kk'eeyh kk'eeyh 353 Jetté - "Birchwood is used extensively in the making of sleds, canoe frames, snowshoes, etc., and for such purposes the birch that grows on hillsides, or in dry ground is always selected when available. The native claim that the one from the flood-plains rots easily and does not last over one year. My experience goes to confirm this statement." Sullivan - Beginning on page 2 of the The Ten'a Food Quest, he gives a description of use for fish wheel baskets. On page 3 is a description of birch bark being used as canoe covering and how trees are selected for bark. Sullivan - Inner bark is separated from outer bark and dried and roughened to prevent fish from slipping during processing. Bark is used as a watertight roofing material in combination with earth. Also used in basket making. Sullivan - On page 28 of The Ethnology of the Ten'a Indians of Interior Alaska, he describes the process for making bow and arrows from green birch wood. Nelson - On pages 177-185 of Tracks in the Wildland he gives descriptions and illustrations of how birch bark is gathered and used for a variety of containers. Clark - Big game spears were made from a shaft of birch and a spear head made from moose tibia or bear ulna. Betula nana dwarf birch łeyeł yeł3 692 Means shrub in general, but when applied to a specific plant it most often means Betula nana, but can also refer to Betula glandulosa Betula glandulosa resin birch kk'aan dikina Described from Nelson, not in KAD Betula papyrifera Betula nana

BLUEBELLS

Bluebell : Scientific Name Related Terms Koyukon Name Koyukon Root KAD Page Notes on Translation Use Information Mertensia paniculata lungwort ggaał lodelyaaye ggaał 200 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." ggaał laagge zelaaye ggaał laagge nodelyaaye ggaał dzaaye' Mertensia paniculata noolaagh dzaaye' dzaayh2 165 Lit. 'dog salmon's heart' or 'king salmon's heart' ggaał dzaaye' Mertensia paniculata or Valeriana capitata unidentified bluebell or valerian łookk'e lo daaldloye lo2 404 unidentified plant that grows on the edge of lakes, possibly bluebell or valerian Jones - "This is burned under a fishnet so that smoke drifts through the meshes to rid the net of bad luck." Mertensia paniculata

BLUEBERRY

Blueberry : Scientific Name Related Terms Koyukon Name Koyukon Root KAD Page Notes on Translation Use Information Vaccinium ulignosum nełyaaghe yo4 698 Lit. 'that which grows' Nelson - Notes that along with cranberries these are the most important plant food to the Koyukon Athbascans. Marcotte - Average collection in Huslia in 1983 was two gallons per household. Vaccinium ulignosum

---

Page:  1  2  3  4  5  6  (Next)
  ALL

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, educational institution and provider is a part of the University of Alaska system. Learn more about UA's notice of nondiscriminitation.