The following plants were used for technical purposes by the Gitxsan and Wet'suwet'en peoples:
Plant common name (Latin name) |
Brief description of use: |
| Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) | Peel was dried to make twine for assorted applications. |
| Spreading dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium) | Used for high quality fiber for twine. |
| Beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta) | The wood was used in the construction of numerous tools. |
| Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) | An important source of fiber for fishing nets. |
| Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia) | The wood was used to make arrow shafts. |
| Common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) | Used in the construction of smoking pipes. |
| Scouring-rush (Equisetum hyemale) | The bark was used as sand paper. |
| Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus) | Used as lining for baskets or to dry berries on. |
| Common Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) | Used as an abrasive sand paper. |
| Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) | The main source of lumber for constructing buildings. |
| Paper birch (Betula papyrifera) | The bark was used a lot because of its water-resistant qualities. |
| Common Green Peatmoss (Sphagnum angustifolium) | Used as lining for diapers. |
| Common Red Peatmoss (Sphagnum capillaceum) | Used as lining for diapers. |
| Western redcedar (Thuja plicata) | The trunks and inner bark were used for a number of purposes. |
| Subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) | The pitch was used to seal and protect canoe seams and bowstrings among other things. |
| Marsh valerian (Valeriana dioica) | The plant was used as a perfume to mask the scent of the Gitxsan. |
| Red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa) | The hollow stems were used to create a variety of products |
