Native American Herbal, Plant Knowledge

available during hte long winters. Fruits and gardened vegetables such as corn,

squash, pumpkins, beans, were dried, but these do not supply the full range of

vitamins and minerals (although drying usually preserves what they do contain

better than any other method). Anishnaabeg people mostly drank teas, rather than

water, and these contained vitamin and mineral components not available to them

during winters from other parts of stored or hunted food. So some of these can be

thought of as vitamin/mineral supplements. Unfortunately, scientists usually

haven't gotten around to analyzing such wild plants for nutrient content, unless

they have become of economic interest to white people or businesses. (What we

do know is that unless it were a general starvation winter, Native people didn't

suffer from scurvy or any of the other deficiency diseases. They were getting

quality nutrition when fresh plant foods were unavailable for many months.)

This is something that the Herb Research Foundation (associated with the

American Botannical Council) may be able to help Native groups with. Read their

mission statement, reports, and some ongoing projects on their pages.

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NOTES for the incomplete ones: remove as individual pages are completed.

3. Chokecherry and other cherry twigs Ikwemusk (women's medicine). No pix. I can
   scan a drawing.


4. Sarsaparilla Wabos odjibik. Rabbit root, Auralia naudicallis


5. Sassafrass.


6. Dried leaves of strawberry, Odeminidjibik, raspberry Miskominaga wunj,
   blackberry. Odatagago minaga wunj


7. Arborvitae (spruce, Thuja occidentalis). Gijikandug


8. Pine needles. Jingwauk


9. Goldenrod. Adidjidabowano, giizisko mushkiki (when it's medicine) , Solidago
   aromatic, single pannicle of flowers, more pointed leaves, leaves smell sweet. Dry
   upside down.


10. Wintergreen Winisibugons, Gaultheria procumbens. Ferment leaves and berries
    in glass or pottery in warm place for several days. Then strain. Do not try to extract
    with hot water.

Native Foods -- Recipes--Herbal Teas

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