Editing Blackfoot Confederacy (section)

===Ethnobotany===
[[File:Joseph Henry Sharp - Making Sweet Grass Medicine, Blackfoot Ceremony - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|Blackfoot making [[Hierochloe odorata|sweet grass]] medicine for a ceremony.]]
[[File:Big Mouth Spring.jpg|thumb|Blackfoot man with braided sweet grass ropes]]
[[Artemisia tridentata|Sage]] and [[Hierochloe odorata|sweet grass]] are both used by Blackfoot and other Plains tribes for ceremonial purposes and are considered sacred plants. Sage and sweet grass are burned with the user inhaling and covering themselves in the smoke in a process known widely as smudging. Sage is said to rid the body of negative emotions such as anger. Sweet grass is said to draw in positive energy. Both are used for purification purposes. The pleasant and natural odor of the burning grass is said to attract spirits. Sweet grass is prepared for ceremony by braiding the stems together then drying them before burning.

Sweet grass is also often present and burned in pipe-smoking mixtures alongside [[Arctostaphylos uva-ursi|bearberry]] and red willow plants. The smoke from the pipe is said to carry the users prayers up to the creator with the rising smoke. Large medicine bags often decorated with ornate beaded designs were used by medicine men to carry sage, sweet grass, and other important plants.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ceremonies|url=http://www.blackfootcrossing.ca/ceremonies.html|work=Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park|access-date=26 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506145033/http://www.blackfootcrossing.ca/ceremonies.html|archive-date=6 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Blackfoot also used sweet grass smoke, or sachets of sweet grass in their clothing, as an effective insect repellent.<ref>[http://acsh.org/news/2016/11/01/sweetgrass-deet-traditional-native-american-herbal-remedy-acts-mosquito-repellent "Sweetgrass: Like DEET, Traditional Native American Herbal Remedy Acts As Mosquito Repellent," American Council onf Science and Health]</ref>

They apply a poultice of chewed roots [[Asclepias viridiflora]] to swellings, to "diarrhea rash", to rashes, to the sore gums of nursing infants{{sfn | Hellson | 1974 | p= 75 }} and to sore eyes.{{sfn | Hellson | 1974 | p= 80 }} They also chew the root of [[Asclepias viridiflora]] for sore throats,{{sfn | Hellson | 1974 | p= 71 }} and use the plant to spice soups, and use the fresh roots for food.{{sfn | Hellson | 1974 | p= 101 }} They make use of [[Viola adunca]], applying an infusion of the roots and leaves to sore and swollen joints,{{sfn | Hellson | 1974 | p= 79 }} giving an infusion of the leaves and roots to asthmatic children,{{sfn | Hellson | 1974 | p= 74 }} and using the plant to dye their arrows blue.{{sfn | Hellson | 1974 | p= 123 }} They put [[Carex]] in [[moccasins]] to protect the feet during winter horse stealing expeditions.<ref>Johnston, Alex, 1987, Plants and the Blackfoot, Lethbridge, Alberta. Lethbridge Historical Society, page 22</ref>