Hazelnut

Cree: pakān ("nut") <br/> Latin: <i>Corylus L.</i><br/>

(Banner image) USask [CC BY-SA]

The Hazelnut tree is a member of the Birch family. The roots are used to make baskets and brooms.

Food

The nuts can be eaten raw or stored for winter use.

Medicine

The bark is used to close wounds and cuts. It is also used for treating hives, colds and fevers, and tea was used to treat diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps (MacKinnon, p. 145).

Spiritual use

"hazelnut tree outside Arts lecture theatres 143 and 146". University of Saskatchewan. [CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

To help newborns through teething, a necklace made of very small woven hazelnut branches and sinew were placed around the baby's neck until it falls off on its own (Cree Elder, published in Marles et al., p. 150).

References

"hazelnut labels". University of Saskatchewan. [CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

Cree Elder, Athabasca River region, AB. Interviewed 1994, published in Marles et al., 2012.

MacKinnon, A., Kershaw, L., Arnason, J. T., Owen, P., Karst, A., & Hamersley-Chambers, F. (2014). Edible & Medicinal Plants of Canada. Edmonton, AB: Partners Publishing and Lone Pine Media Productions (BC) Ltd.

Marles, R. J., Clavelle, C., Monteleone, L., Tays, N., and Burns, D. (2012). Aboriginal Plant Use in Canada's Northwest Boreal Forest. Edmonton, AB: Natural Resources Canada.