Northern Cheyenne Medicinal Plants Talk

On August 29, Linwood Tall Bull and his son Randall Tall Bull, enrolled members of the Northern Cheyenne tribe and educators from Chief Dull Knife College, shared their stories about native plants in a talk titled Northern Cheyenne Traditional Foods, Native Plant Uses & Plant Lore at the Sheridan Food Forest.

Alisha Bretzman who owns Piney Island Native Plants in Sheridan, talked about the Medicine Garden, saying the plants included are traditional plants of the Northern Cheyenne People. She also talked about Linwood Tall Bull, Northern Cheyenne elder, ethnobotanist, and culture preservationist. His Cheyenne name, Ho’neh’eso means Young Wolf.

She added that his son, Randall Tall Bull whose Cheyenne name, H’aest’ohena’hane means Many Skills, is carrying on his father’s work. He is a skilled craftsman of traditional tools, weaponry, and ancient skills. He shares teaching the ethnobotany summer course at Chief Dull knife College.

Linwood started the program talking about some of the plants that the Northern Cheyenne used to treat illness and wounds. He also commented on how well the Medicine Garden was growing. “I’ve never seen the plants grow so much. Last year they were scraggly looking,” he said. He added that the plant lore has been passed down for generations.

Linwood held up a bundle of sage tied with colorful ribbons.

He also talked of some spiritual beliefs; one was that touching a tree could heal sadness.

He said that echinacea was a good forecaster of winter, the taller the plant in the fall the deeper the snow would be. He added too that come winter the people not only needed food but also medicine plants to keep everyone healthy.

Randall Tall Bull talked about some of the parts of the buffalo, and how they were used.

He talked about the importance of food plants as well.

After the talk, attendees were urged to come up and try the teas and the chokecherry patties and see the other native items on display. There was a buffalo robe, and various utensils and tools made from the buffalo, including a buffalo bladder, which was used as a water bag.

Around 30 people attended the event. The event was made possible by the Sheridan Food Forest, Piney Island Native Plants, Powder River Basin Resource Council and the Bighorn Native Plant Society.

All plants in the Northern Cheyenne Medicinal Garden are grown by Piney Island Native Plants. The Medicinal Garden was designed and installed by Piney Island Conservation Services.

The Sheridan Food Forest is a place where people can forage for vegetables, herbs and fruits. A volunteer community developed the Food Forest and provided the necessary workforce for maintenance, growth, and help with educational events. The Food Forest is located at Thorne Rider Park near the pathway.