A cluster of oak leaves on a branch

Bur Oak

Ojibwe: Mitigomizh
Swampy Cree: Maskawátik
Dakota: ?
Michif: La shenn

Identification

Bark

Dark grey. Deep furrows. Flakey.

Needles/Leaves

Large. Shiny on top. Hairy underneath.

Cones/Seeds

Acorns. The cup is fringed, covering more than half the acorn. Sweet in taste.

Habitat

Acorns were gathered late fall and could be used in the winter or spring if they were buried when collected.

There are 3 ways to cook it:

  • Boiled and split open.
  • Boiled, mashed, and mixed with grease.
  • Roasted in Ashes.

It is said that bur oak acorns are very good in duck soup. (Densmore, 1926-7, 320, Chippewa)

The bark can be used to bandage a broken leg or foot. The bark has astringent medicine. (H. Smith, 1932, Ojibwe)

*Note that this is not an exhaustive list. In some cases there may even be more than one translation for a plant name as Indigenous language can vary depending on which region it is being spoken. Even the plant uses can very depending on where the knowledge was sourced from.

Please do not consume plants that you have no experience with. If prepared incorrectly, it could be harmful. Contact an elder or expert before use.