Northern Cheyenne Reservation

Northern Cheyenne Tribe (South Central Montana)

The Place

The Northern Cheyenne Reservation is situated within the North Western Great Plains, on the picturesque Tongue river in the high plains of southeastern Montana.  The region lies east of the Continental Divide and the Rockies and is bordered on the West by the Crow Reservation.  With a semi-arid climate and less than 16" of annual rainfall, southeast Montana falls short of prairie grassland and instead hosts near-desert plants, open ponderosa-pine plateau and valley country.  The land was shaped by the carving action of erosion, leaving a rugged, eroded and colorful land formations with spectacular views of the badlands, which are intriguing to see any time of the year!  Flora found in this circle are native to southeast Montana's ecoregion and are culturally significant to the Northern Cheyenne people.

 

 

 

tongue river

The People

The Cheyenne are Indigenous people of the Great Plains.  Current Cheyenne are comprised of two Native American groups, the So'taeo'o and the Tsetsehestahese.  Historically, there is evidence of the plains Indians occupying Wyoming as big game hunters and gatherers more than 12,00 years ago.  The earliest written record of the Cheyenne is from the mid-seventeenth century.  Over the past four centuries, the Cheyenne people have evolved to different lifestyles across the Great Plains.  The Cheyenne were know as Notameohmesehese, meaning "Northern Eaters" due to their impressive hunting, fishing, and foraging skills.  Later, they adopted a horse culture and an agricultural lifestyle.  Today, the Northern Cheyenne practice their traditional ceremonies, such as pow wows and the Sun dance, and use traditional plants to maintain their culture, religion, and language

 

 

Traditional-sun-dance-ceremony-Cheyenne.jpg

The Plants

Wild Licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota)  -  Ma?kehaha-novaso

Wild Licorice Glycyrrhiza lepidota Pursh Burr

Wild licorice is a perennial plant with pinnate, frondlike leaves and a dense spike-like bloom of white flowers, which become brown spikey seed pods in the fall. Glycyrrhiza is often found growing in moist areas and reproduces via rhizomes. The rhizomes are used in medicine, though the entire plant can be used. The Cheyenne have consumed the raw spring shoots and made tea out of the leaves and roots for upset stomach or diarrhea. Licorice is also commonly taken as a tea for sore throats or any respiratory illnesses like coughs or colds. Because it is considered to have a cooling effect, the Northern Cheyenne have used it to cool down in sweat lodges and during Sun Dance ceremonies.

White sage (Artemisia ludoviciana)  -  Hetane-vano?estse (man sage)

White Sage Artemisia ludiviciana Nutt

White sage, or “Prairie sage”, is an iconic plant that has significance to many tribes. The genus artemisia includes hundreds of species; the ludvoviciana species has silvery-green, fragrant leaves and can grow to be several feet tall. This plant is used for sinus infections and nosebleeds, but of greater importance is its role in ceremonies and for purification. The Northern Cheyenne burn the leaves for incense in ceremonial lodges: the smoke is said to drive away bad spirits and dark dreams. Sage has been used to break people of taboos, draw power and prevent thirst during Sun Dance, and rubbed upon the shoulders to prevent illness. It is an important plant that purifies people, animals, objects, and spaces.

Prairie or Purple Coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia)  -  Mo?ohta-heseeo?otse (black medicine)

Echinacea angustifolia

Echinacea angustifolia is a perennial member of the Asteraceae family that flowers from June-August. It has a tall stem with a cone-like center and pink-purple droopy ray flowers. Its relative, Echinacea pallida, is also used by the Cheyenne. Prairie coneflower is used to relieve colds as well as toothache and cavities. Chewing the root encourages saliva production and thus staves off thirst, which is helpful for Sun Dancers. The root has been made into a tea or decoction (strong tea) to ease a sore throat or mouth and to ameliorate the effects of arthritis, smallpox, and measles or mumps. Externally, it may be applied as a tea to reduce fevers, as it has a cooling effect. Echinacea has also been combined with other plants and made into salve or oil as a topical treatment for rheumatism, measles/mumps, and boils.

Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum)

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Rocky Mountain Juniper

 Rocky Mountain Juniper is a shrubby evergreen tree that can sometimes grow to be 30 feet tall. It is commonly found in low to mid elevation in rocky or sandy soils, especially on warm, dry, south-facing slopes. This plant has an important place in Northern Cheyenne culture. The leaves are burned as incense for purification during ceremonies like the Sun Dance. Juniper is also believed to have a special relationship with thunder: the tree is exempt from getting struck and can assuage people’s fear of thunder. Juniper wood can also be made into flutes as love medicine for an aching heart. It is said to represent youthfulness as its needles remain vibrant in fall and winter. As a medicine for physical ailments, juniper cones may be chewed to alleviate colds, cough, or sore throat. Steam from juniper tea can also be inhaled for medicine.

The Other Plants In The Northern Cheyenne Circle

Click the names below to see a photo of each plant.

Blanket Flower

Curly Leaf Mountain Mahogany

Golden Currant

Hyssop

Wild Licorice

Maximilian's Sunflower

Mock Orange

Nettle-Leaf Giant Hyssop

Prairie Dropseed

Purple Coneflower

Rabbit Brush

Raspberry

Rocky Mountain Juniper

Showy Milkweed

White Sage

Yucca