PLANTS USED FOR FIBERS

 Only when documentation has been found are specific tribal names given

Basswood (Tilia americana L.) used by Algonquin, Cherokee, Chippewa/Ojibwe, Lakota, Menominee, Meskwaki, Potowatomi

inner bark used as cordage, for tying/binding, sewing, weaving, making mats, fishnets, snowshoes

                                                                                  OJIBWE SNOW SHOES

 Bulrush (Scirpus validus (Vahl.) used by Menominee, Ojibwe, Potawatomi woven into mats to use on floors or as walls; also woven into baskets

BULRUSH MAT

     

 

Cattail (Typha latifolia) used by Menominee, Ojibwe, Potawatomi 

Leaves made into mats to cover winter lodges; used to make rope and baskets

   Cattail roots and shoots, harvested Spring of 2012 

 

Quiver and Basket made from cattail leaves

Arbor vitae

Cedar or Arbor-vitae (Thuja occidentalis L.) used by Menominee, Ojibwe

bark woven into bags

Eastern white cedar
Western red cedar

CEDAR BARK BASKETS

 Dogbane ((Apocynum androsaemifolium L.) used by Menominee, Ojibwe, Potawatomi

fibers used as thread and cordage; fibres woven into a durable fabric

DOGBANE CORDAGE

Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) used by Menominee, Ojibwe, Potawatomi

Roots used as cordage after boiling and splitting, usually for sewing birch bark canoes

Jack pine

Jack pine cone

PINE ROOT CORDAGE--

Leatherwood or Moosewood (Dirca palustris) used by Menominee, Ojibwe, Potawatomi

bark used as cordage, good substitute for twine

**"Bark is leathery, tough and strong. Twigs are extremely pliable. Native Americans used the twigs and bark for a number of purposes including making bow strings, baskets, fishing line and rope."

From Missouri Botanical Garden database:

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=287357 


 Photo from WildwoodSurvival.com
http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/cordage/leatherwood/index.html 

 Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) used by Menominee, Ojibwe, Potawatomi

thread, and cords from stems for fishnets

Photo fromWildwoodSurvival.com
http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/cordage/leatherwood/index.html
Milkweed stem fiber                                                            Milkweed fiber cordage
Milkweed stem cordage                                            Milkweed pod fiber

 Nettle (Urticaceae gracilis and Laportea canadensis)  used by Menominee, Ojibwe, Potawatomi

after retting, fibers made into a twine for making fiber bags; also used as thread. Can be spun into yarn

 Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva Mx.) used by Menominee, Ojibwe, Potawatomi

bark boiled and uses for fiber for making bags and storage baskets

Slippery elm leaf and seeds
Harvesting slippery elm bark
Slippery elm fibers
Basket made from Slippery elm

Sweet Grass (Hierochloe odorata

A sacred smudging herb, it was also used for making baskets.
Sweet grass bundles with seeds

Sweet Grass (Hierochloe odorata

 Tamarack (Larix laricinia)  used by Algonquian, Chippewa/Ojibwe, Cree, Iroquois
Roots used for weaving bags, sewing edges of canoes; wood used for arrow shafts.
Tamarack in summer
Tamarack in fall
Cree Tamarack goose
Tamarack twig basket