Part of the Elise R. Donohue Lectures on the American West in Memory of Walter S. Rosenberry Lecture Series

Northern Cheyenne Plants & Their Uses
Located in the heart of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Crazy Head Springs sustains a unique mix of plants found nowhere else on the Reservation. In this talk, Kathy will highlight about 20 accessible and commonly used plants from this rare riparian shrubland and coniferous forest ecosystem. She will share their traditional uses and Northern Cheyenne names, as taught to her by tribal ethnobotanist William “Bill” Tallbull.
Join us for an enlightening public lecture series that delves into the rich tapestry of Western history and explores the invaluable lessons it offers for our present-day world. Through engaging talks by historians and scholars, we will examine key events, movements, and figures that have shaped Western civilization. After the lecture, there will be a meet-and-greet with the evening’s speaker and light refreshments

Hager Auditorium
Included with membership, $5/non-member
Registration is required

Kathy Widdicombe grew up near the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Southeastern Montana and developed an early interest in ethnobotany after learning about traditional plant use in elementary school. After earning a Broadfield Science degree in 1991, she returned to teach at St. Labre Catholic Indian School for 24 years, where she integrated ethnobotany into her curriculum, led annual field trips, and created a school garden focused on Indigenous plants. Inspired by a course she took from ethnobotanist William “Bill” Tallbull, Kathy later presented at the Indian Education for All Conference and continued teaching in the Colstrip Public School system for another 3.5 years. Now retired, she continues to expand her knowledge of plant uses among other tribes.