A Full Moon Walk on January 6, 2023

 

If you are looking for a fun and refreshing way to celebrate the New Year, take a walk through the beautiful Connecticut woodlands on January 6 @ 6 p.m. with the Institute of American Indian Studies in Washington. There is something rejuvenating and primeval about taking a walk under the first full moon of the year with the educators of the Institute as your guides. 

Get ready to walk along the beautifully wooded trails on the grounds of the Institute where you will experience the serenity of nature under the bright nighttime sky that Eastern Woodland Native Americans have celebrated for centuries. Many Native American communities call the January full moon the “Moon of the Crackling Trees,” because it is so cold out, so make sure you dress appropriately! 

The highlight of this easy walk is to experience, firsthand, the beauty of the January full moon from a Native American perspective. 

After this walk, you will look up at the full moon with a new appreciation and knowledge, passed down by Native Americans through the centuries. The woodland walk ends at the newly restored 16th-century Algonkian village where a warm fire, hot chocolate, and stories will greet participants. 

Space on this walk is limited and pre-registration is required. Please call 860-868-0518 or email events@iaismuseum.org to reserve a spot. The price for participation is $10 for non-members and $5 for members of the Institute. Remember to dress for the weather, wear proper footwear, and bring along a flashlight. 

About The Institute for American Indian Studies

Located on 15 acres of woodland acres, the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have the 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present 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 at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

Medicinal Monday...American Boneset - Handle with Care!

American Boneset has a long medicinal history. Its name, boneset comes from an ancient concept known as the Doctrine of Signatures that believed that God marked everything with a sign (signature). Early herbalists using this concept believed that the way plants grow or taste helps signify the way they could be used. In the case of boneset, its rigid stem appears to grow through its leaves, seeming to support the plant's main stem, and because of this, it was thought boneset would be useful in setting bones. Native American communities using this plant, however, found many other medical uses for it.

About American Boneset

Eupatorium perfoliatum or American Boneset can be identified by its opposite stalkless leaves that are fused together across the stem making them look like a single leaf that has been pierced by the hairy stem. Boneset is a large herbaceous, clump-forming perennial shrub that can grow up to six feet tall. Some thought it looked like broken bones fusing together, hence its use to treat bone breaks. It has flat-topped tubular-shaped white flowers that bloom in clusters of 9 to 23 florets from July through October. The flowers are replaced by seeds small tufts of hair that are dispersed by the wind from September through November. The finely toothed leaves are lance-shaped and taper to a sharply pointed tip and clasp the stem. Boneset prefers moist rich soil and sunny locations. It is a common native plant found in the Eastern United States and Canada. In general, it is widespread from Nova Scotia to Florida and can be found as far west as Texas. 

Medicinal Uses

The most common use of boneset in traditional Native American medicine is to use it as a hot infusion to treat fevers, sore throats, and the common cold. The Abnaki used an infusion of this plant to mend bones, and the Cherokee, Mohegan, Nanticoke, and Delaware made an infusion to treat sore throats, fevers, and colds. They also drank an infusion as a purgative and as an emetic. The Chippewa made a poultice of boiled plant tops and applied it to sore muscles and used it as a treatment for rheumatism. In addition, the Chippewa made a poultice of chewed plants and applied it to rattlesnake bites. In hunting, the Chippewa rubbed roots on whistles and used them as a charm to attract deer. The Mohegans used an infusion of Boneset leaves for stomach trouble and to treat general illnesses. It was also part of a compound infusion that was taken as a spring tonic. The Penobscot made a compound infusion to treat kidney trouble and gonorrhea. The Seminole used a decoction of the plant as a gentle emetic as well as a medicine for colds and fevers. 

The Iroquois made a poultice of smashed plants and applied it to treat headaches. They made an infusion of boneset stems and took it at the onset of a cold and also made an infusion of the entire plant to treat fever. The Iroquois made a compound decoction of the flowers and leaves and took it as a laxative, also, they made a cold compound infusion of leaves and applied it as a poultice to broken bones. The Iroquois used boneset as a poison and would put the plant in an enemy's liquor flask to kill him; they also used it for sorcery and for divination. The Meskwaki used the root for snakebite and an infusion of leaves and flower blossoms to expel worms. The Rappahannock made an infusion of flowers just before they matured and combined them with dried leaves and took this as a tonic for energy.

Did You Know...

Boneset contains volatile oil, tannic acid, and Eupatorin, a bitter glycoside acid. Mature boneset contains toxic alkaloids that lead to many complications in humans. It is said the taste of boneset is slightly bitter and mildly astringent and is poisonous to humans, livestock, and other animals. 

In the 18th century, this plant was prescribed to treat bone rack fever, which was probably Dengue fever.

Another name for boneset is thoroughworts because of the way the leaves appear to go through the stem.

Boneset attracts butterflies, bees, and songbirds. It is deer and rabbit-resistant.

Boneset shares its generic name Eupatorium with about 40 other plant species. The plant is named after Mithridates Eupator, who lived from 135-63 BC and was the ruler of Pontus in Asia Minor.

The species name, perfoliatum is Latin and refers to the stem piercing leaf. 

When taken by mouth it is extremely unsafe and can cause severe diarrhea and vomiting. It has pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can damage the liver.

Medicinal Monday - Deck the Halls with American Holly

American Holly is a festive-looking plant this time of year that provides food for a variety of wildlife, and, as Native American communities discovered it is also useful medicinally. Native Americans also found many practical uses for this attractive tree. It is documented that Native Americans used the wood of this tree for different applications and that the berries were used for buttons and barter. The holly genus illex includes almost 500 species that are grouped in the family Aquifoliaceae. The genus is found in Europe, North America, mountainous regions of Asia, and South America.

About American Holly

American Holly or llex opaca can be found in the south-central and eastern parts of the United States including Connecticut. It can be found as far south as central Florida and west to Missouri and Texas. The bark of this evergreen tree is smooth and light grey in color, older trees are darker in color and develop warts. Branch bark is light green and smooth, while twigs are grey or brown and smooth, and young shoots are light green.  Leaves are shiny green with a stiff leather-like texture. They have dramatically serrated leaves that have a classic toothed appearance. Hollies are dioecious, so flowers are distinctly male (staminate) or female (pistillate). Each flower has four to six white petals that bloom on separate plants and cross-pollinate to produce fruit on the female tree. Pollination is carried out by a variety of insects. Fertile female flowers produce dupes or berries that mature in the fall. The berries that mature in October and keep until the spring are bright red and spherical in shape.

Medicinal Uses of American Holly

Although these berries may be beautiful, they are mildly toxic to humans and some animals. In the Southeast, it has been documented that Native Americans collected and used holly berries as decorations. Many communities carved spoons, cooking tools, and buttons from the wood and traded them. The berries were also used to make a dye. There were also many medicinal uses for this tree, Alabama for example made a decoction from the bark and used it as a wash for sore eyes. The Catawba made an infusion of the leaves and used it to treat skin sores. They also made a decoction of the leaves to treat measles The Cherokee chewed the berries to treat colic and used the leaves to scratch muscles that were sore or cramped. They also made a decoction of the leaves and used them as drops for sore eyes. The Koasati made an infusion from the bark and rubbed and used it to treat spots that were itchy.

Did You Know...

It is said that American Holly was a favorite of George Washington and the hollies he planted are still evident today at Mount Vernon.

The first scientific observation of the American Holly tree was in 1744.

Ancient Roman society used holly to ward off lightning strikes and often included it when giving gifts.

Druids used holly as a hair ornament and believe it offers woodland fairies shelter.

The use of holly around Christmas became popular after the release of The Night Before Christmas in 1822.

American Holly is the state tree of Delaware.

One pound of American Holly berries contains around 28.000 seeds.

The berries are an important source of winter food for many birds including the American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Grey Catbird, and Northern Mockingbird.

Holiday Break Pop -Up Programs @ Institute for American Indian Studies

The winter holiday break for children is around the corner. To keep boredom at bay, the Institute for American Indian Studies located at 38 Curtis Road in Washington has devised a variety of in-person programs that provide children with the opportunity to play as well as to learn. The programs will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, December 29, and Friday, December 30.

Storytime

All parents know that each child has an entirely different set of interests, and that is why the Institute's variety of pop-up programs will have something of interest for every child. Children are invited to listen to stories, play games, and create crafts to take home. Most importantly, all programs are inspired by the lifeways and lessons of local Native Americans. An added benefit is to provide children with the chance for exciting and meaningful interaction with other enthusiastic kids as the Institute's professional educators lead a variety of winter adventures for kids to enjoy. 

Kids will be intrigued by Native American games like snow snake, snow boat, and hoop and pole which will get them out into the fresh air while learning about Native American culture. Make sure your children are dressed for the weather because some activities will be outdoors. During craft sessions, age-appropriate programs will be offered. Children may make a cornhusk doll and buzzers, as well as learn about the art of beadwork and try their hand at it. Best of all, they can take their work home to show to their friends and family.

Snowsnake

This family-friendly event is open to children of all ages. The Institute requests that an adult remains on the premises while the children are participating in programs and activities. Pre-registration is encouraged as space is limited and can be reserved by visiting the website and registering on Eventbrite, by calling 860-868-0518, or by emailing events@iaismuseum.org. The cost of participation is $10 for members of the Institute and, $15 for non-members.

Medicinal Monday - Winterberry Brightens a Winter Landscape

The winterberry is one of the few plants in New England that are at their prettiest after their leaves have fallen. A scarlet mass of these red berries brings a spot of color to the dreariest winter landscape.  Today, we often see the fruit ladened bare branches of this plant used as a colorful component in holiday decorations.  This plant has limited but fascinating medicinal uses in Native American culture and, we would like to think it had decorative uses as well.

About Winterberry

The genus llex is from the holly family of some 400 species of trees, shrubs, and climbers found throughout the world.  There are about 15 species found throughout North America including Connecticut where the species, llex verticillata grows.  Most holly shrubs have glossy prickly evergreen leaves studded with bright red colored berries, the winterberry has neither.  Dark green simple ovate shaped leaves with small teeth that are smooth and slightly glossy above and fuzzy below are characteristics that identify the winterberry found here along with the beautiful red colored berries.  The male plant blooms in the summer with small clusters of white flowers, the female plant has fewer but showier flowers.  Only the female plants produce fruit, and only if there is a male plant nearby that provides pollination. 

The winterberry plant is most often found in wetland habitats, but, it can also be found on dry sandy dunes and grassland.  This plant is referred to by a variety of names including black alder, Canada holly, coralberry, brook alder, fever bush, and Michigan holly.  The berries are poisonous to humans, dogs, cats, and horses, but more than 49 species of birds eat the berries as well as waterfowl, game birds, raccoons, and even mice.  When food is scarce whitetail deer,  rabbits, moose, and snowshoe hares will eat stems and bark.

Medicinal Uses

Native Americans use the bark and leaves of the winterberry plant to treat a variety of ailments.  Winterberry earned its nickname fever bush because Native Americans use the bark to treat fever, internal parasites, and liver ailments.  They also used the bark externally to treat cuts and bruises.  The bark is 4.8% tannin and was harvested before the first frost.  A tea is made from the bark and used as an emetic, a tonic and remedy for diarrhea and a preparation is made from the roots to treat hay fever. The Iroquois make a tea from winterberry bark and berries and used it as a laxative and to induce vomiting.  

Did you know...

A Confederate doctor, Francis Porcher used this plant to treat fevers, diarrhea, ulcers and as a medicinal wash to treat gangrene.

Oriental Bittersweet is sometimes confused with winterberry.  To tell them apart, look at the leaf margins and berries. Winterberry has serrated leaf edges and smooth red berries. Oriental Bittersweet has rounder leaves and red berries with loose yellow skins.

Winterberry leaves when dried can be made into a tea that contains no caffeine.

Swallowing the berries can cause vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and drowsiness and is considered poisonious to humans, cats, dogs and horses.

New Exhibit "Nebizun: Water is Life" @ Institute for American Indian Studies Through March 2023

 The Institute for American Indian Studies at 38 Curtis Road in Washington, Connecticut, has just unveiled a new traveling exhibition, “Nebizun: Water is Life.”

This exhibition is a collaboration of artwork by Abenaki artists of the Champlain Valley and the Connecticut River Valley. Vera Longtoe Sheehan, Elnu Abenaki, and founding director of the Vermont Abenaki Artists Association curates the exhibition. Sheehan will be giving a gallery talk on Saturday, December 10 at 1 p.m. that is free and open to the public. Sheehan serves as an Executive Board Member for the Vermont Humanities Council, on the Vermont Arts Council’s IDEA Committee, and is a core member of the Education Justice Coalition of Vermont. She formerly worked at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. Her curatorial work reflects her deep knowledge of Indigenous history and culture in the northeast. The exhibit will be on view at the Institute through March 2023.

“Nebizun: Water is Life”, draws visitors into the Native American worldview of water from the very first word Nebizun which means medicine, and the root word, Nebi, the Abenaki word for water. Water is one of the four sacred elements of life, along with air, earth, and light/fire. As stewards of the environment, Native American people know the importance of clean water. Water is essential for life, it is important to fish and other wildlife, it is essential for the growth of crops, and it is an important component in medicine and healing.

“Water is Life “ by Francine Poitras Jones. Nulhegan Abenaki 

The Abenaki community, among many others, knows how important clean water is to everyday activities that some take for granted. During the recent controversial construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline through the homelands of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the anthem, “Water is Life, was born by Water Protectors and, this traveling exhibit recognizes this controversy through its name and some of its artwork.

 

“Nebizun: Water is Life” reflects awareness of both traditional values and contemporary issues. This exhibit draws inspiration from Native American grandmothers who have been doing water walks to pray for the water and the 50^th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. We hope this exhibition inspires everyone to be a Water Protector.

Medicinal Monday...Atlantic Poison Oak

There are two types of poison oak in the United States; both Atlantic and Pacific poison oak cause severe dermatitis in people allergic to it. Although the Atlantic poison oak plant looks relatively harmless it isn't. People that come in contact with it get a terrible itchy rash that worsens as it progresses. Some people develop bumps and blisters that ooze, and hives may also develop. Some folks are so allergic to this plant that they may require a trip to the hospital. The rash usually appears a day or two after exposure and can last about a week. Although many Native American communities considered this plant "poisonous" they did find ways to use it medicinally.

About Atlantic Poison Oak

Toxicodendron pubescens, commonly known as Atlantic poison oak is a species native to the Southeastern United States from Virginia westward to Texas and Oklahoma. This plant grows in woodland areas where it easily blends into the landscape and in dry sandy fields. Poison oak is a shade-loving plant that has three leaflets per branch and as many as nine leaflets per cluster. In the spring the leaves are red or green and have greenish-yellow flowers. During the summer months, the leaves are green and some plants produce light green berries, and in the autumn, the leaves turn various shades of red and orange.

Medicinal Uses

Inconceivably, Native American communities found limited medicinal use for this plant. For example, the Cherokee made a decoction of the stems of this plant and took it as an emetic. The Delaware made a poultice of roasted, crushed roots and used it to treat rheumatism and stiffness. They also made a salve from crushed roots to treat chronic sores and swollen glands. The Iroquois made a poultice of the entire plant and applied it to infectious sores on the lips. They also used a decoction of the plant as a pediatric aid and gave it to high-strung children. The Meskwaki made a poultice of the pounded root and treated swellings to cause blisters. The Potawatomi Medicine Men made a poultice of the pounded root and applied it to swellings. Some Native American communities prescribed acrid juice from fresh leaves for its stimulant and narcotic properties.

Did You Know...

Alaska and Hawaii don't have poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac.

Poison Oak was introduced into England in the 1640s, it was not used in medicine there until the end of the 18th century when it was utilized in the treatment of stubborn herpetic eruptions.

At one-time poison oak was officially listed in the Pharmacopoeia of the U.S. 

Both the Atlantic and Pacific forms of poison oak contain a chemical called urushiol, which most people are allergic to. Coming in contact even with dead leaves, stems or roots can cause a severe reaction to this oil.

Burning Atlantic poison oak releases the oil into the air where it can trigger internal and external allergic reactions. To inhale this oil is extremely dangerous.

Some people are so allergic that they have trouble breathing and swallowing. In severe cases, it can cause swollen lymph nodes, headaches, and nausea.

Medicinal Monday... the Stately Eastern Hemlock

This coniferous tree native to the eastern portion of North America including Connecticut and parts of  Maritime Canada is a slow-growing evergreen that lives a very long time. This tree is the largest native evergreen conifer in the Eastern USA. Native American communities found many uses for this beautiful tree.

About the Eastern Hemlock

Tsuga canadensis or the Eastern Hemlock may take up to 250 to 300 years to reach maturity and may live for 800 years or more. Unlike most conifers, the eastern hemlock has to have shade provided by hardwood trees in order to regenerate. This tree needs moist soil that is well-drained and can grow from sea level to 2,500 feet in elevation. It can be found through the western one-third of Wisconsin, east to Michigan, south-central Ontario, southern Quebec through New Brunswick, and all of Nova Scotia. It is found throughout New England and New York. It extends south through the Appalachian Mountains to northern Alabama. The trunk of this tree is usually straight and monopodial and very rarely forked. The brownish bark is scaly and deeply fissured, especially with age. The twigs are yellow-brown and the buds are small and oval in shape. The slightly toothed delicate leaves are flat and two-ranked. The bottom of the leaves is silvery-white with two broad pores or stomatal bands and the top is shiny green. The seed cones are ovoid in shape. This tree produces both male and female cones on the same branch. It is notable for its fine-textured foliage that droops to the ground and its pyramidal shape. 

Medicinal Uses

Many Native American communities valued the eastern hemlock tree for its medicinal uses because of the tannin in its bark. Many communities brewed tea from the bark and also made ointments to treat burns and sores. The Abnaki made a decoction from the leaves to treat rheumatism and the Algonquin made a decoction of branches which they boiled down into a thick syrup or paste that they used like a poultice for arthritis. The Algonquin also made a decoction of the inner bark and used it to treat skin diseases like eczema, and tea was made of the inner bark to treat coughs and colds. The Cherokee chewed the roots for gastrointestinal issues and made a poultice of the bark to treat skin conditions. The Cherokee and Algonquin used a compound decoction as an aid in childbirth. The Chippewa pulverized the inner bark and applied it to wounds to disinfect them, they also made an infusion of twigs and drank this mixture to treat dysentery. The Delaware made a hot tea of roots and twigs and used it as a steam treatment for stiff and sore joints. The Iroquois made a decoction of leaves and bark and used it as steam for sore joints and as a foot bath. They also made a decoction of smashed needles to treat colds and fevers and to induce sweating. The Malecite made an infusion of the branches of this tree and used it to treat colds and an infusion of young buds and cones was used to treat diarrhea. The Ojibwa made tea from the leaves to flavor medicinal tea, they also used the bark as an antiseptic to treat bleeding wounds. The Potawatomi used an infusion of leaves to cause sweating to break up a cold.

Practical Uses

Among the many uses of the eastern hemlock, many Native American communities used the bark to make a dye, and some communities mixed the bark with rock dust to set the color of the dye. The color of the dye was a rosy tan. The wood was used for kindling and fuel and the inner bark was used to make baskets. Bark strips were used in the construction of wigwams. The bark was also used as a source of tannic acid used in the tanning process.

Did You Know

This tree provides shelter for wildlife in the winter because its branches bow but don't break from the snow providing cover. The oil-rich seeds found in their cones provide food for many species of birds and other wildlife.

Eastern hemlock is susceptible to fire because of its shallow roots and thin bark.

To date, the oldest recorded tree in Tionesta, Pennsylvania, is over 554 years old.

This species is currently threatened by hemlock wooly adelgid, a sap-sucking bug introduced from East Asia to the U.S. in 1924. A research project in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park is being conducted to save the largest and tallest trees remaining in the park.

The tree can be found living in association with many forest mushrooms.

In New England, the Eastern Native Tree Society has measured eastern hemlock trees growing to 138 feet.

It was introduced to British gardens in 1736 and is often used as a hedge.

American pioneers made tea from its branches and also used its branches as brooms.

Medicinal Monday...Cranberries - Packing a Healthy Punch!

 A staple accompaniment to turkey during the holidays, the little cranberry native to northern North America called the Vaccinium oxycoccos was long prized by Native Americans. Cranberries are an important food source and also had many medicinal uses. 

About Cranberries

This genus of cranberry is widespread throughout northern Europe, Asia, and North America. It is a small evergreen shrub with vine-like stems that root at the nodes. The lance-shaped leaves are small and leathery. This plant produces flowers on stalks that arise from axils of leaf-like bracts at the base of new shoots. The flowers are white to pinkish and resemble a lily because of the way the lance-like petals curl back. The slender stalks are hairy and reddish in color. The mature fruit is a shiny dark red round berry that is between 1/4 and 1/2 inch in diameter. The plant flowers in June and July and the fruits ripen in September and October. The cranberry is found in wetlands and bogs and spreads by layering.

Medicinal And Culinary Use

Cranberries are foraged and consumed by Native Americans. The 1999 Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink states: "The Native Americans of New England, who called them sassamensesh or ibimi, long enjoyed cranberries, both raw or sweetened with maple sugar." They were also dried and stored for later use. Berries were added to soups, boiled down into a sauce, and ground into flour that is used for flavoring. Some Inupiat cook cranberries with fish, eggs, and blubber." 

Native Americans use berries, twigs, and bark for medicinal purposes that includes the treatment of bladder ailments and kidney disease. A poultice of cranberries is made to help heal wounds and tumors. This is a good idea because cranberries have properties that fight off common bacteria. The Ojibwa make an infusion of the cranberry plant and use it to treat nausea.

Did You Know...

Cranberry flowers attract native bees, butterflies, and moths.

Cranberry leaves stay green all winter long.

Other names for the Vaccinium oxycoccos include bounce berry, marsh-wort, fen berry, moss berry, northern cranberry, small cranberry

We consume about 400 million pounds of cranberries a year.

English settlers arriving on the coast of New England ate cranberries to ward off scurvy.

Today many studies show that cranberries have high levels of a class of polyphenols that give the berry its red color making it very high in antioxidants. 

Today some people drink cranberry juice to help ward off bladder infections. Cranberries have a compound of properties that prevent common bacteria from attaching to cell walls.

Indigenous Artists & More Holiday Market @ Institute for American Indian Studies November 26 & 27, December 3 & 4, 10 & 11

 Once again this year, the Institute for American Indian Studies located at 38 Curtis Road in Washington is hosting a one-of-a-kind holiday shopping experience that celebrates Native American culture. What makes this Holiday Market unique is that it pays tribute to indigenous people across the United States and provides a spectacular opportunity to see Native American-inspired work that is handmade, artfully displayed, and sold. 

The Holiday Market located in one of the Institute’s impressive exhibition galleries takes place on Saturday, November 26, and Sunday, November 27, and Saturday, December 3, and Sunday, December 4. The final weekend for the holiday market is on Saturday, December 10, and Sunday, December 11. The market is free and open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. 

A tour of the museum is an insightful experience that compliments this unique shopping experience. Entrance to the museum is a nominal fee ($12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $8 for children; members of the museum are free), and includes the newly installed national traveling exhibit, “Nebizun: Water is Life, “curated by Vera Longtoe Sheehan (Elnu Abenaki) of the Abenaki Arts and Education Center. 

The Holiday Market has so many gifts to choose from including Native American jewelry, paintings, photography, and unusual ornaments perfect for Christmas trees to decorative gourds, pottery, rattles, flutes, and more at a variety of price points. The chance to talk with the artists that have created these one-of-a kind objects and to learn about the culture that inspired them makes your gift purchase even more meaningful. 

For music lovers, musicians, and collectors, the magical sounding authentic Woodland Native American flutes handcrafted by Allan Madahbee are truly unique. Madahbee is an Anishnawbe, born on Manitoulin Island, and is a registered Native American in Canada and the United States. In addition to the one-of-a-kind flutes, Madahbee is offering handmade beaded moccasins, woodcarvings, rock sculptures, and original paintings inspired by his ancestors and experiences. 

Another vendor, Kim Lewis from Native Visions will be offering an astounding array of Native American Art from Oklahoma and the Southwest including a fine selection of original paintings and prints, Zuni Fetishes, silver jewelry, pottery by Mel Cornshucker, plus Hopi, and Navajo Kachinas. 

A long-time favorite of the Holiday Market is Primitive Technologies, a nationally known small business that has worked with everyone from filmmakers to museum curators to recreate the material culture of prehistoric Native American life. They offer exquisite wood-fired replica pottery, hand constructed from local river clay, hand-carved flint arrowheads and flint animal necklaces, carved stone art, traditional stone tools, containers made out of natural materials, unusual jewelry, and decorative gourds. 

Jessie Rose, from the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, and owner of Rooted in Alchemy will have an array of herbal mixtures including sage, sweetgrass, cedar, and more. Brandi Sawyer, (BThunder Ah'Hel'Ya) of Cherokee descent, will also be at the holiday market with a wonderful selection of contemporary Native American-inspired art.

The Museum's Gift Shop will be open and brimming with gifts large and small in many price ranges. Highlights of the gift shop include a distinctive collection of Native American jewelry, including wampum jewelry crafted by Annawon Weeden, Mashpee Wampanoag, and Pequot artist Dan Simonds, head of the Wampum Wear Collective. There are decorative gourds and ornaments created by Jeanne Morningstar Kent, a member of the Nulhegan Coosuk-Abenaki of Vermont, and Native American food from Sweet Grass Trading Company from the Cherokee Indian Reservation. 

Let your holiday merriment begin at the Institute’s Holiday Market signature event which offers unusual gift items and an immersive cultural experience that celebrates contemporary and traditional Native American inspired art. 

About The Institute for American Indian Studies 

Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have a 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning 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 at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

Medicinal Monday - Couch Grass

Elymus repens or couch grass is a very common species of grass that was brought to North America from Europe for forage and erosion control. It has become naturalized throughout most of the world and is considered to be an invasive weed because it becomes entangled with the roots of shrubs and perennial plants, slowing down their growth.  Native American communities did find several interesting medicinal uses for this pesty plant.

About Couch Grass

This grass grows by creeping rhizomes that enable it to spread rapidly across grasslands. It is native to Europe, Asia, and Northwest Africa and belongs to the Hordae genera of the Poaceae or grass family. This grass grows up to three feet high and has spikes that bloom from June to August and look like wheat or rye. The leaves are dark green and alternate with sheaths. The blades are long and narrow and the veins are parallel. The smooth pale yellow roots are long and trailing with each joint creating a shoot that becomes grass. It prefers soil with a good water supply and is rich in nitrogen. It can be found in pastures, fields, weedy meadows, edges of yards and gardens, and along roadsides.

Practical and Medicinal Uses

Most often many Native American communities made tea from the roots to treat bladder problems. The Cherokee made a decoction of the root and used it to wash swollen legs, they also took an infusion to treat upset stomachs, continence, and bedwetting. The Iroquois made a decoction of the roots and used it to dispel worms from the body and as a urinary aid. The apache used this grass for hay and ate the seeds for food. The Okanagan-Colville used this plant over and under food when cooking in a pit. The Gosiute used the seeds as a source of food and ate them like cereal. The roots were cooked and are said to be quite sweet.

Did You Know...

Other names for couch grass are dog grass, quick grass, wheat grass, quack grass, twitch grass, and witch grass.

The genus name, Agropyron is from the Greek word agros meaning field and puros meaning wheat.

In America, it is considered a weed but in some regions of Europe and Asia it is used as fodder for livestock.

It has been used as a natural remedy to treat kidney stones.

Medicinal Monday...Northern Maidenhair Fern

Maidenhead Fern is one of the most attractive ferns that grow in the Eastern woodlands. This lovely fern has many medical uses, both internally and externally. The leaves as well as the toots were used by many Native American communities. In addition to its Native American history, Maidenhair fern also played a minor role in the Appalachian folklore that states..."If a maiden handles the stem and the leaves don't flicker, her virtue is assured."

About Maidenhead Fern

Adiantum pedatum or Northern Maidenhead fern is found in the humus-rich, moist eastern deciduous forests throughout New England and eastern North America. Like other ferns in this genus, it can be identified by its straight slender, wiry, smooth, shiny stem that is red-black, dark brown, dark purple, or black. The fronds or leaves are flat and arranged in a horseshoe pattern and can grow up to 16 inches in length and 10 inches wide. The leaflets are divided into groups of two to nine and are located on the outer curve of the rachis. Each leaflet is bluish-green. The sub-leaflets are numerous, fan-shaped, and alternately arranged. They have membranes and the leaflets are incised on their upper edge. Spores or fruit dots are located on the underside of the sub-leaflets that form white, yellow-green, or grey-brown indusium (a flap of tissue) that protect the sori (spores) of this fern. The spores are black and microscopic and are produced from July through September. Its slender rhizomes branch out horizontally. The roots are fibrous and found near the growing end of the rhizomes.

Medicinal Uses

The most common use of this fern by many Native American communities was to treat rheumatism by making a decoction of the roots and applying it to the affected area. Some communities made a tea of the roots and took it to treat rheumatism. There were many other medicinal uses for the Northern Maidenhair Fern. For example, the  Cherokee make a decoction of the entire plant and used it as an emetic in cases of fever. They also smoked powdered leaves for heart trouble and sniffed them for asthma. The Costanoan made a decoction of the entire plant and drank it to treat stomach trouble. The Hesquiat chewed the green fronds for shortness of breath. They also made an infusion of the ashes of the dried fronds with other herbs and took it to increase endurance. This infusion was often used by dancers in the winter who would take nothing but this infusion on the day that they were dancing to make them light on their feet. The Iroquois made a compound decoction of the entire plant and gave it to children for cramps.  They also made an infusion of this fern to induce vomiting as a remedy for love medicine. The Iroquois also used a poultice of wet, smashed fronds to treat snakebites. The Iroquois and Menominee made a decoction of roots and gave it to women as a gynecological aid.

Cultural Uses 

The Potawatomi used the black stems of this fern as a hunting charm to bring about good luck. The Pomo would insert a stem in a pierced earlobe to prevent the piercing from closing. The Makah and  Kwakiutl use the stems for black color in making baskets. The Maidu used stalks as a decorative overlay twine when making baskets. The Kwakiutl use fronds to line baskets and other containers. The Karok use stems to decorate Jump Dresses. 

Did You Know

The generic name, Adiantum, is Greek for “unwettable”, “unwetted”, or “without wetting”, which refers to the foliage repelling or shedding raindrops and not getting wet. The specific epithet, pedatum, is Greek for “foot-like.” This refers to the branching pattern of the fern’s fronds. 

The common name, Northern Maidenhair, probably refers to the fine, delicate root hairs. 

Other common names are American Maidenhair, Canada Maidenhair, Common Maidenhair, Five-fingered Fern, Five-fingered Maidenhair, Hair Fern, Lockhair Fern, Maiden Fern, Northern Maidenhair Fern, Rock Fern, and Sweet Fern.

Medicinal Monday... Five Plants Used for Native American Witchcraft!

Like many indigenous tribes around the world, Native Americans believed in witchcraft and magic. These beliefs were passed down by oral tradition. There were many traditions such as vision quests to gain enlightenment and direction and many dances and ceremonies to honor spirits and ancestors. Historic records show that Algonquian and Iroquois accepted witchcraft as part of their world and would use it to explain disasters. For more information see https://www.jstor.org/stable/1124016. Many plants were used to ward off witchcraft. Below find five used by different Native American Communities from around the country.

Rock Jasmine

Androsace occidentalis commonly known as rock jasmine or fairy candelabras is in the primrose family. This delicate-looking flower is native to much of the midwestern and western United States. The Navajo collected this plant and used it for pain from witches' arrows.

Angelica atropurpurea

Angelica atropurpurea is a species of flowering plant that can be found in eastern North America including Connecticut as far south as Tennessee and as far north as Ontario, Canada. The aromatic root of this plant had widespread use among many Native American communities as a purification herb. It was often burned during the shaman's prayers in a healing ceremony. It was used to prevent heat stroke during a Ribbon Dance in the Green Corn Ceremony. The Iroquois used this plant specifically to punish evil people and would use an infusion of smashed roots to remove ghosts from a house. 

Ottleya wrightii

Ottleya wrightii or Lotus wrightii is native to the Southwestern United States and is the legume or bean family. It is a delicate plant with yellow flowers on many stems that rise up from a single root crown and was named after Charles Wright. The Zuni people apply a poultice of the chewed root to swellings that they believe are caused by the witching power of a bullsnake, one of the largest and longest snakes in the U.S. reaching a length of eight feet or more.

Macromeria viridiflora 

Macromeria viridiflora or giant trumpets is a large hairy leafy plant with stout stems that have pale trumpet-shaped flowers that grow in large coils at the ends of the plant's upper branches. The Hopi would dry the plant and smoke it as a cure against people that know how to charm. It was also smoked for fits, craziness, and as a cure for witchcraft. The Hopi also smoked this plant in rain-bringing ceremonies.

Ulmus rubra

Ulmus rubra or slippery elm is native to the eastern United States and can be found in Connecticut. The inner bark of the tree is edible and was boiled and eaten by Native Americans who also made a tea out of the bark. The tree's inner bark was also spun into a thread and used for bowstrings, ropes, and jewelry. The Cree used a decoction of the bark of this tree and mixed it with gunpowder and took it to speed delivery. It was also used in sympathetic magic.

Medicinal Monday...Goldenseal

Goldenseal has a long and colorful history. It is prized among many Native American communities for medicinal purposes and as a traditional dye.  Today, many people use goldenseal medicinally for a variety of ailments. The use of goldenseal as "herbal medicine" is not restricted by the FDA however, some medical professionals urge caution because of the plant's toxicity.

About Goldenseal

This woodland plant is native to the eastern woodlands of North America and Southern Canada. It is believed to be the only existing species of the genus Hydrastis. It is distinguished by its thick yellow-knotted roots. It grows by rhizomes and has a purplish and hairy stem and matures slowly. It produces flowers in its fourth or fifth year and has several growth stages. The first stage is when the seed erupts and embryonic leaves emerge. The second stage is when a jagged 5-lobed leaf develops with or without a stem, and the third stage is when a flower and the fruit and seeds appear. Fertile plants have a single stem with two palm-like lobed leaves. Flowering plants produce a single flower that blooms for a short time in the spring and is followed by a red raspberry-like fruit that turns into seeds. 

Cultural and Medicinal Uses

Many Native American communities boil the roots to make a yellow dye. Goldenseal is a perennial herb that contains the alkaloids hydrastine and berberine which have antiseptic effects. Documentation shows that goldenseal was used by Native Americans to treat sore eyes, mouth ulcers, tuberculosis, and edema. The Cherokee use this plant for cancer treatment, and to improve their appetite. They also use it as a tonic and wash for inflammation and skin diseases. The Iroquois took a decoction of the roots to treat whooping cough, fever, diarrhea, and gas. A compound infusion was made and used to treat earaches. The Iroquois mixed an infusion of roots with whisky and drank it as a stimulant. The Micmac used the root to treat chapped lips, and the Catawbas used boiled root to treat jaundice as well as colds and sores in the mouth.

Did You Know...

This plant has gone by many names including orangeroot, Indian dye, yellow root, ground raspberry, yellow puccoon, wild circuma, eye root, eye balm, yellow paint, wild Tumeric, and yelloweye.

This plant was very popular in the 19th century and was overharvested. Today it is considered an endangered plant and a permit to export it is required. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requires only the legal harvesting of this plant.

Goldenseal is considered endangered in 17 of the 27 U.S. States where it grows. The core range is in the Ohio River Valley, where its population has decreased by more than half.

Recently it was cultivated in New Zealand with a positive growth rate.

Goldenseal is not advised if you are pregnant or nursing a baby.

In the U.S. goldenseal is often combined with echinacea and sold to prevent colds.