Strawberry Moon Festival June 15

In honor of the Strawberry Moon that will shine brightly in the sky this June the Institute for American Indian Studies on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut is holding a Strawberry Moon Festival on June 15 from 12 noon to 4 pm.

Early Native Americans didn’t track time by using the Julian or Gregorian calendar. For millennia, many Native American communities kept track of time by observing the change of seasons by following the lunar full moon cycle. American Indians named each full moon cycle after activities or events that they associated with that time of year that reflected the season. Colonial Americans adopted some of the Native American full moon names and applied them to their own calendars. These descriptive names are still in use today.

The Algonquin’s of Connecticut named June's full moon the "Strawberry Moon" because of the red strawberries that began to ripen at this time of year. This is the most colorful of all full moons because things are lower in the sky. The shallow arc of the June full moon means moonlight must travel through more of the earth’s atmosphere, which filters out all the colors of the moon’s spectrum except the oranges and yellows. Best of all no telescopes are needed, just look up!

It is difficult for most of us to resist a perfectly ripe strawberry; which is one of the most popular fruits in the world. There are ten varieties of strawberries that differ in flavor, size, and texture and yet all of them have the same heart shape and leafy green cap. To fete the strawberry, that has a long history in Native Culture, the Institute for American Indian Studies is hosting the Strawberry Moon Festival on June 16 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., a delicious celebration not to be missed! This year the Strawberry Moon will be 100% illuminated on Monday, June 17, 2019.

To celebrate the Strawberry Moon, the Institute for American Indian Studies has organized games, food, and stories that honor the importance of this season to Native American culture. Strawberries have been used for centuries as medicine, in cuisine, and ceremonially by Native Americans. Strawberries generally represent life and good health.  

At the Strawberry Moon Festival, visitors of all ages will enjoy traditional Native American Music, and stories told by a traditional Native American Storyteller. These stories are life lessons that teach the importance of giving thanks to the bounty of the Earth. A highlight of this event will be samplings of complementary food such as strawberry tea and strawberry bread made from locally grown fruit. Special activities for children are planned from 12 noon to 4 p.m.  There will be live music from 1 p.m. to 3 pm.

The cost of this event is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for children.

Medicinal Monday - A Hot Herb of Surprises -Horseradish!

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) is a perennial that originated in southeastern Europe and western Asia; today this hardy plant is grown all over the world.  The use of the horseradish root has been used medicinally for more than 3,000 years to treat a wide variety of illnesses.  When brought to North America, Native American communities found many ways to use this highly regarded medicinal plant.

About Horseradish
This hardy perennial is easy to cultivate and, once established it grows well in full sun and slightly moist soil.  The plant grows in clumps and has bright green heart-shaped leaves that grow out from the main stalk that can grow up to three feet tall.  The flowers have four white petals and the plant usually blooms in the summer months. The fruits are spherical and hold four to six seeds. After the first frost in autumn kills the leaves, the root is dug up and divided, with the main root is usually kept for harvest and offshoots replanted. The entire root system can extend several feet depending on the age of the plant.

Medicinal Uses of Horseradish
After removing the center rib of the leaves the Mohegan make a poultice with the remaining leaves, this mixture is bound to both cheeks on the face to treat a toothache.  The Iroquois make an infusion of the roots and drink it as a blood medicine.  The Delaware, Ontario, use a poultice of leaves to treat neuralgia.  The Cherokee found several uses for this plant and use it to treat rheumatism, colds, sore throats, and asthma.  They also chew the roots as an oral aid for sore gums and other diseases of the mouth.

Did You Know...

Ancient Greeks and Romans used this herb to treat back pain and during the Middle Ages, this plant was incorporated into the Passover Seder as one of the bitter herbs.

The Sass family was instrumental in developing the horseradish industry in Illinois in the mid.-1800s. 

In 1869 John Henry Heinz made horseradish sauce from his mother's recipe with the intention of selling it and started the commercial horseradish industry in the Midwest.

Today, Collinsville, Illinois refers to itself as "the horseradish capital of the world" and holds an annual festival to celebrate the plant.

The name horseradish may be a derivation of the German word meerettich, which means, stronger radish.

About The Institute for American Indian Studies (IAIS)

Located on 15 woodland acres the IAIS preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs.  We have an outdoor replicated 16th c. Algonkian Village and Wigwam Escape and a Museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present that allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut.

Medicinal Monday - Elegant and Endangered Whiteflower Leafcup

This beautiful flowering plant is native to Eastern North America from Ontario south to Alabama and east to Connecticut.  Native Americans found several clever uses for this beautiful plant through experience and experimentation. Sadly,  today, this elegant plant is considered endangered in Connecticut and Vermont. 

About Whiteflower Leafcup

Polymnia canadensis,  which is part of the Sunflower Family is commonly known as whiteflower leafcup and is easily identified by its' small flowers that bloom in late summer.  The flowers can be "ray flowers" or those flowers with white petals (usually five to eight petals) or, they can be "disk flowers" that have a yellow center like a daisy.  The bases of opposite leaves expand and fuse forming a small cup around the stem, which is how the plant gets its name.  The lance-shaped lobed lower leaves that are coarsely toothed and fringed with short hairs are large in comparison to the small delicate ray or disk flowers.  Leaves on the upper part of the plant are smaller and triangular in shape. This plant grows in clumps on weak hairy stems, and usually has many branches that are floppy. This plant likes moist soil, shady forests with calcareous or chalky limestone soil and ravines.  The sap is clear and slightly sticky with a sweet fragrance. This is a biennial or short-lived perennial.

Medicinal Uses
This pretty plant is used by the Houma as a dermatological aid by making a poultice of crushed leaves and applying them to treat swellings.  The Iroquois use this plant as a remedy to treat toothaches.

Did You Know

Crushed leaves have a strong lemony scent.

Another name of the whiteflower leafcup is "bears foot".

Only ray flowers of this plant produce seeds and a single plant may produce more than 100 flower heads.

Whiteflower Leafcup is an excellent nectar plant and visited by many bees and wasps.

The genus name, Polymnia canadensis is a reference to the Greek Muse Polymnia, goddess of music, dance, and song.

About The Institute for American Indian Studies (IAIS)

Located on 15 woodland acres the IAIS preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs.  We have an outdoor replicated 16th c. Algonkian Village and Wigwam Escape and a Museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present that allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut.

Medicinal Monday - Heartleaf Arnica

The common name of this beautiful yellow flower, Heartleaf typifies the way the petals and leaves surround and color this plant. Heartleaf resembles very small sunflowers with their bright yellow petals and a golden center.  Native Americans found many uses for this perennial herb and use it for a variety of ailments including love potions.

About Heartleaf Arnica

This perennial herb is native to North America and can be found from Alaska to California; to New Mexico and as far east as Michigan.  Heartleaf grows up to 24 inches high and spreads by tender creeping rhizomes. This hardy plant can survive in many habitats but thrives in mountain meadows and forests.  The leaves are heart-shaped with finely toothed edges.  The daisy-like flowerheads are studded with resin glands and each one has a golden yellow center with a bright golden ray of petals radiating out. The fruit and seed of this plant are dispersed on the wind. Heartleaf Arnica can live up to twelve years.

Medicinal Uses
A common use by many Native American communities is to use it as a poultice to soothe strained muscles and bruises. In addition to this application, the Shuswap make an eyewash from this plant to treat sore eyes.  The Thompson mash the plant and use it to treat swellings, cuts, and bruises, they also make an infusion to treat tuberculosis.  The Okanagan-Colville use the roots as a love medicine. Roots are mixed with a robin's heart and tongue then dried into a powder. The user is instructed to go into the water and face east.  He would recite certain words including those of the person he loved, and, then mark his face with the yellow powdered Heartleaf Arnica mixture.

Did  You Know

This plant can survive periodic wildfires because it can resprout from its long rhizomes.

Arnica contains several chemical compounds with anti-inflammatory properties and is being investigated for possible pain relief for arthritis.

According to a European folk tale, the medicinal value of arnica was discovered by shepherds who noticed that injured sheep and goats were attracted to this plant.

About The Institute for American Indian Studies (IAIS)

Located on 15 woodland acres the IAIS preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs.  We have an outdoor replicated 16th c. Algonkian Village and Wigwam Escape and a Museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present that allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut.

Medicinal Monday - Barbara's Buttons

This little known and endangered plant that is part of the sunflower family and related to daisies.  It was named in the honor of the Herbert and Moses Marshall of Pennsylvania.  They were botanists of the American colonial period.  Native Americans found several uses for this pretty perennial and elusive plant.

About Barbara's Buttons

This plant is found in open habitats such as roadsides, bogs, as well as in open woodlands and in pine forests. The typical blooming period is late May and early June.  The small white to pinkish flowers bloom in large spherical heads and attract butterflies, beetles, bees as well as other pollen-carrying insects.  The Latin name of this plant is Marshallia obovata and it is native to the southeastern and south-central portions of the United States.

Medicinal Uses

The Catawba of South Carolina use this plant to treat a variety of diseases.

Did You Know...

The flower heads resemble buttons and it is thought that this plant was named after Saint Barbara.

Some species of the Marshalia are of conservation concern.  Marshallia Grandiflora is endangered in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee and Marshallia Obovata is listed as endangered in Florida and is threatened in Tennessee.

Barbara's Buttons are also called Piedmont Barabara's Buttons and Spoon-shaped Barabara's Buttons.

About The Institute for American Indian Studies

The Institute for American Indian Studies preserves and educates through discovery and creativity the diverse traditions, vitality, and knowledge of Native American cultures. Through archaeology, the IAIS is able to build new understandings of the world and history of Native Americans, the focus is on stewardship and preservation.  This is achieved through workshops, special events, and education for students of all ages.


Located on 15 woodland acres the IAIS has an outdoor Three Sisters and Healing Plants Gardens as well as a replicated 16th c. Algonkian Village.  Inside the museum, authentic artifacts are displayed in permanent, semi-permanent and temporary exhibits from prehistory to the present that allows visitors a walk through time. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut and can be reached online or by calling 860-868-0518.