Indian Hemp is an erect, bushy herbaceous perennial that grows up to 1 metre tall, with smooth, often reddish stems. It has many opposite, finely pointed, elliptical to lance-shaped leaves, 5 to 11 cm long; they are yellowish green, turning golden yellow in the fall. Indian Hemp is common in the valleys and lower slopes of the southern interior of British Columbia.

Aboriginal Use

Indian Hemp was without doubt the most important source of plant fibre for First Peoples of the southern interior. A good, several-ply Indian Hemp rope is said to have the equivalent strength of a modern rope of a few hundred kilograms test weight. Even the thinnest of threads is difficult to break with the hands. When stored properly, Indian Hemp fibre will keep for many years without deteriorating. Its natural colour is a light tan, almost white.

Indian Hemp was used to sew moccasins, clothing, baskets, birch bark canoes and Cattail mats, and to weave garments, baby bedding and bags. They often wove Indian Hemp with other plant fibres, such as Tule stems and the bark of Silverberry, willow and sagebrush; in making garments, they sometimes spun it with deer hair.