Arrowleaf Balsamroot board - SD#83 Aboriginal Education

Arrowleaf Balsamroot Info for Plant Board
This PDF contains all the information and pictures for the Arrowleaf Balsamroot board. Below is a layout for the
board. This PDF contains additional information than the one in the kit, so it is organized differently. Each
number represents a numbered caption or image provided below. All of the information is sized to fit on a display
board that is cut to half its height. To make the information pop against the board, use colour paper as a mat. To
protect the printed information, laminate the caption or picture glued to the colour mat, then attach to the board
with hot glue.
Poster board layout
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2
3
12
11
6
13
10
14
for each picture
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5
15
7
ARROWLEAF
BALSAMROOT
1
TS’ELQENÚPYE7 (LEAFY TOP)
TSÉTS’ELQ (ROOTS)
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HARVEST
 March – April: young leaves and roots
 April – May: flower bud stems
 Late Summer: seeds
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PLANT DESCRIPTION
 Grows 20-80 cm tall
 Long leaves shaped like arrowheads
 Flowers are bright yellow
 Flowers grow small seeds like a sunflower
 Grows on open, dry hillsides
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MEDICINAL USES
 Dried leaves can be boiled in water to make a tea to be used
as a wash for poison ivy and sores
 Roots too large to eat are used for medicine
 Root pitch can be used on sores, and roots tea can be used
as a wash
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FOOD USES
 All parts of the plant can be eaten
 Young leaves can be eaten raw or steamed
 Young stems can be peeled and eaten raw
 Smaller roots can be roasted or steamed. The inside of the
root is eaten
 Roots can be hung to dry for storage. To use them once
dried, soak the roots in water overnight
 Seeds can be dried
 Mix dried seeds with powdered Saskatoon berries and
sugar for a sweet snack
 Dried seeds can be pounded into a flour
 The seed flour was used to thicken stews
 Mix the seed flour with deer fat or grease and water, then
boil it to make into cakes
Digging sticks or pa̓tsa (ba-jah) are traditionally
made of black hawthorn wood, with bone or antler
handles. The point of the stick can be burned to make
it harder. They can also be made of steel.
Secwepemc elder Dr. Mary Thomas is shown holding her pa̓tsa.
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Shoot
Seeds
Flower
Root
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SD #83 Aboriginal Education 2016
Authors and Acknowledgements
The Indigenous Plant Use in Secwepemc Culture kit was researched, written and created by:
Jackie Lever – District Aboriginal Helping Teacher
Amy Sampson – Aboriginal Education Worker
Barb Lebeau – Aboriginal Education Worker
Lana Binder – Aboriginal Education Worker
Launa Payne – Aboriginal Education Worker
Laura Dolha – Aboriginal Education Worker
With thanks for help from: Cory Thomas, Delores Purdaby, Erica Seymour, Gerry Thomas, Diane Jewell, Jackie Jules, John Sayer,
Lucy William, Rosalind Williams, SD#83 First Nations Education Council (FNEC).
Some of the images in this kit are used with permission from Laura Dolha and Jackie Lever. All other image sources are listed in the
references.
Image Reference
(left to right, top to bottom)
Photo 1,2,4: Laura Dolha
Photo 3: https://okanaganokanogan.com/category/industry/agriculture/heritage-seed/
Photo 5: Jackie Lever
Photo 6: http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/ntfp/history/digstick.htm
SD #83 Aboriginal Education 2016