Nautchiat Tuktut Nurrait Tanmaaqtarvingmi

Flowers of Tuktut Nogait

PHOTOS & WORDS by STEPHANIE YUILL

Capitate Lousewort

Despite their disagreeable sounding name, the capitate lousewort, like many showy flowers, is said to be quite tasty!

To reproduce, the flowers of plants are rich with sugary, sticky nectar. This nectar attracts bees, birds and butterflies who lap up the nectar. In the process, these flying wonders transfer pollen from one flower to next!

Humans are not immune to tasty, sweet treats! Elders have described the capitate lousewort’s flowers as being juicy and like grapes from the store.

RIVER BEAUTY/ DWARF FIREWEED

PRICKLY SAXIFRAGE

FLAME LOUSEWORT

Arctic Heather

Move over giant Sequoia trees! This small (5-10 cm), low-lying northern shrub packs its own giant punch. The delicate white flowers are beautiful to look at—but it is the plant’s waxy looking leaves that can save a life.

The waxy feel is due to the high-resin content found in the plant. Resin is a natural fire starter. This means that, wet or dry, Arctic Heather is perfect fuel and a great way to start a campfire for warmth or cooking. It is a vital tool in a land with limited natural fuel resources.

The smoke from burning Arctic Heather can also be used to prevent flies and other insects landing on drying meat or fish. Thankfully, the smell does not bother humans. Instead, the plant’s stem is a perfect natural incense. Try it on a stove, in a candleholder, or on a flat rock! That scent is a wonderful treat for those who use Arctic Heather for bedding. Gathered in large amounts, the plant can be layered on the ground to provide soft cushioning for a solid night’s sleep.

Arctic Cotton

This easily recognizable plant is as functional as it beautiful! The soft, white flowerheads provide food and comfort to many on the tundra. It's a tasty morsel for caribou, providing much needed energy to sustain them on their annual migration.

The heads also provide heat and light. Their fluffy composition makes them perfect tinder for starting fire in the late fall and early winter. Early Inuvialuit would use cotton grass heads as wicks in lanterns fueled by whale or seal oil.

Wooly Lousewort

One of the most surprising plants on the tundra, every summer the woolly lousewort morphs from a white, gray, mushroom-like thumb to a pink beacon of beauty.

Bumblebees, along with butterflies, are attracted to the pink flowers on the plant, hence its Inuvialuktun name, iguttait niqautingit (bumblebee food).

However, bees and butterflies aren’t the only species that find the woolly lousewort useful! The white fuzz found on the plant makes fine tinder for starting a fire. And if you dig deeper, under the soil, the yellow-coloured roots make a nutty treat. Some Elders recall their grandparents dipping them in seal oil or duck fat. Better than chips and dip!