sweetgrass in indigenous culture in north america

SWEET GRASS (Hierochloe odorata)

Samantha Bray

Samantha Bray, BSc.

OUTLINEHistory of sweet grass

Characteristics of the plantRole in aboriginal cultureHarvesting sweet grassBraiding (at a later date)

HISTORYGeneral belief that sweet grass is a plant

native to North America.Circumpolar Plant: sweet grass is found in

Europe and North America.Migrated to North America 11,000-15,800

years ago when North America and Europe were joined as a single continent.

Carried over by boat from Europe to North America then planted in Great Lakes region.

HISTORYIn Europe it is called Holy grass, and

the dried leaves have been strewn on the floors of churches.

In North America, sweet grass is called "Hair of the Mother Earth”

HISTORYHumans were responsible for the

cultivation of sweet grass.Selected for long leaves.Almost always transplanted instead of

started from seed.Reduced the fertility of the plant so that it

does not make viable seeds. Usually needs to be harvested twice a

year.

SWEETGRASS CHARACTERISTICSAlso called: bison grass, we'nuskwûn or wekusko.Vanilla scented.

Identifiers:1. Base of leaves are broad, white, shiny and lack

hairs.2. Underside of leaves are shiny without hairs.3. When leaves grow long they flip and expose the

flat, shiny underside. 4. Distinctive flowers

ROLE IN ABORIGINAL CULTUREOne of the four sacred First Nations medicines

(sweet grass, sage, cedar, tobacco). When one takes sweet grass from the Earth

there must be an offering. Explain to spirit why it is being picked, how it

will be used.Tobacco offering in return for generosity of the

Earth and the plant.

ROLE IN ABORIGINAL CULTURESweet grass is

usually braided.Three sections

represent:Mind, body and soul.Love, kindness, and

honesty. The 3 sections of the

braid have 7 strands of grass per section of braid.

ROLE IN ABORIGINAL CULTURESweet grass is used in smudging, healing or talking circles.

Its smoke is believed to purify thoughts, the environment and to eliminate bad or negative thoughts.

BASKET MAKING

HARVESTINGSweet grass

should always be cut, not pulled from the ground.

Pulling damages root system.

Figure 1. Sweetgrass regrowth for plants that were harvested by pulling and cutting at 0”, 1”, 2”, 3” and 4”.

HARVESTINGCan be done at any time during growing

season.Cut leaves about 2-3 inches above ground

level.Dry in 1” layers, turning the leaves every 30 to

60 minutes until they start curling and drying.Then move to shade to finish drying on newspaper.

Prevents loss of the vanilla scent.

BRAIDING SWEETGRASSTypical Canadian Wildcrafted Braids

50-65 sweet grass leaves. Average about 2 feet long. Leaves must be dried for a few hours in the

sun. Comb the leaves.Line up cut ends and wrap a fresh sweet grass

stem two times around bundle 2-3” from the cut ends.

Loop the tip into a single knot to keep braid from unraveling.

QUESTIONS?