Shelby Ross has studied a plant that Lakota people refer to as hehake tapejuta, or elk medicine.

Oglala researcher focuses on 'Elk Medicine'
By Brandon Ecoffey
Lakota Country Times Editor
www.lakotacountrytimes.com

PINE RIDGE-- To the scientific world this plant is referred to as Monarda Fistulosa. The average gardener prefers to call it by Beebalm. For Lakota people living on the Great Plains this purple prairie flower is called hehake tapejuta (elk medicine). One Oglala researcher has made the plant the subject of her research.

For Lakota people the plant referred to as "Elk Medicine" was used traditionally in a multitude of ways including as a treatment for wounds, a source of naturally occurring antibiotics, and as a flavor for cooking, according to OLC student researcher Shelby Ross.

"There are a few names for Monarda fistulosa like Wild Bergamot or Beebalm the Lakota/Dakota call it "hehake tapejuta" or elk medicine, or good smelling leaf, and "hehake tawote" or elk food. The term elk medicine comes from the origin of the elk dreamer and flute," said Ross. "The elk dreamer possesses strong spiritual powers and when he plays his flute and burns Beebalm mixed with his other incenses they are believed to be capable of attracting someone who they believe was unattainable or another person's spouse. The downfall of the elk dreamer's alluring ability is that they are never feel fully satisfied with love."

Shelby Ross is a Natural Science major who is emphasizing in Conservation Biology at OLC. Ross plans to attend graduate school at the University of Colorado Boulder to pursue a Masters degree in the environmental field.

Ross says that her understanding of the cultural relevance of Beebalm has come from her mentor Linda Black Elk, and her course studies under the late Wilmer Mesteth at Oglala Lakota College. She chose Beebalm due to her desire to study a plant that has cultural relevance to the Lakota people.

"My research is titled Multi level test of anti microbial qualities of the Beebalm against soil microbes. I conducted the research during the Tribal REU program last summer with my mentor Linda Black Elk. I chose to do this research because I was interested in plants but also wanted my research to have some cultural relevance," said Ross.

Her work done under the guidance of Linda Black Elk, a biological scientist who is currently working at Sinte Gleska University, was made possible through a partnership between tribal colleges in the area as part of the Tribal REU program. The program pairs students with faculty-mentors at other tribal colleges who the assist students with their project.

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"Overall Beebalm has been used by all indigenous peoples of turtle island throughout history for its antibacterial qualities. My research was conducted in observance of the Beebalm always growing in dense patches and its ability to keep other plant species out of these patches.," said Ross. "Since the Beebalm processes antibacterial qualities we wanted to see if those qualities affected the soil microbes resulting in its ability to keep other plant species out," said Ross.

Ross presented her initial findings to a panel of state legislatures last month in Pierre but she says that results were inconclusive. She says she will continue to pursue her research on bee balm.

(Contact Brandon Ecoffey at editor@lakotacountrytimes.com)

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