English

bearberry, kinnikinnick

Scientific Name

Ericaceae [Heath Family]

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Arapaho

1. no’úwuno’

(berries) ; 2. no'úwunbiise' (plant)

Translation of Arapaho

1. ‘smoking (plant) berries’ 2. 'smoking plant'

Bearberries and the Arapaho

Oliver Toll reported in 1914 that the leaves of this plant were used for smoking -- a common practice among many tribes. The plant is evergreen, and the berries stay on the plant through the winter.