Cree Plant Names

Cree and Plains Cree names for 33plants found across Alberta, each linked to its full plant guide. These names carry knowledge about a plant's use, season, and place in the world, and they are presented here in the spirit of learning, with respect and attribution.

Names are reviewed against published sources, including the Alberta Elders' Cree Dictionary (LeClaire & Cardinal, 1998). Spot an error or know a name we're missing? Contribute a correction.

acimosihkansak

Plains Cree

Pussy Willow

Salix discolor

ayapisk

Cree

Canada Yew

Taxus canadensis

ayoskan

Plains Cree

Wild Red Raspberry

Rubus idaeus subsp. strigosus

iskotewask

Cree

Fireweed

Chamerion angustifolium

îyinimin

Plains Cree

Low-bush Blueberry

Vaccinium myrtilloides

maskasiy

Cree

Yellow Lady's Slipper

Cypripedium parviflorum

maskekowask

Cree

Labrador Tea

Rhododendron groenlandicum

maskihkiy-waskway

Cree

Sticky Purple Geranium

Geranium viscosissimum

maskomin

Plains Cree

Bearberry

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

mihko-waposakây

Cree

Western Wood Lily

Lilium philadelphicum

mihkominahtik

Cree

Buffaloberry

Shepherdia canadensis

mikwayos-waskway

Cree

Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

mitos

Cree

Trembling Aspen

Populus tremuloides

mîtos

Plains Cree

Balsam Poplar

Populus balsamifera

mostospi

Cree

Prairie Sage

Artemisia frigida

mostospi

Cree

Silver Sage

Artemisia ludoviciana

notimewask

Cree

Canada Anemone

Anemone canadensis

okiniy

Plains Cree

Wild Rose

Rosa acicularis

otehimin

Cree

Wild Strawberry

Fragaria virginiana

pakânak

Cree

Beaked Hazelnut

Corylus cornuta

paskwawi-maskosiy

Cree

Blue Grama Grass

Bouteloua gracilis

paskwawi-waposakây

Cree

Blanket Flower

Gaillardia aristata

pisimohkan-minahtik

Cree

Pin Cherry

Prunus pensylvanica

saskwes-minahtik

Cree

Wild Currant & Gooseberry

Ribes oxyacanthoides

sipihkopiyak

Cree

Prairie Crocus

Pulsatilla patens

takwahiminan

Cree

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana

wâkinâkan

Plains Cree

Tamarack

Larix laricina

wapamew-waskway

Cree

Spreading Dogbane

Apocynum androsaemifolium

wapanewask

Cree

Common Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

wâpasiht

Plains Cree

White Spruce

Picea glauca

waskway

Cree

Paper Birch

Betula papyrifera

ᒣᒯᒢᒴᒣᒢ — misiskwamis

Cree

Sweetgrass

Anthoxanthum nitens

ᓓᒴᒣᓈᓇ

Cree (sakweminan)

Saskatoon Berry

Amelanchier alnifolia