Black Walnut

GA̱HNYOˀGWA:JI:

Black Walnut

Juglans nigra

Family: Juglanaceae

Native tree

The color purple in Hodinǫhsǫ́:nih culture is held in high regard. The word for purple is Ohsohgwaga:yo: and can be translated as the “old color”. When we use the husk of the walnut for a dye it creates a rich purple color and was one of the first dyes we discovered. The name we have for walnut, Gahnyogwá:ji: describes the dying process and can be translated as “the dark water nut”. Many names for objects in Gayogohó:nǫˀ are not simply labels, but share knowledge about the object.