Medicinal Monday - Beautiful Blueberries

Blueberries of the genus Vaccinium is a species that is Native to America and were used for food and medicinal purposes for centuries by Native Americans.  They cherished these berries that were used year-round in many ways.  There is also a spiritual quality to this berry.  The blossom at the end of each blueberry, called the calyx, forms a five-pointed star, Elders of the Tribe told of how the Great Spirit sent "star berries" to relieve the hunger of children during a famine.

About Blueberries

Blueberries are a perennial shrub-like flowering plant with a beautiful indigo colored berry. The flowers are bell-shaped and white, pale pink or red and the berry has a flared crown at the end of the fruit.  The berry starts off as pale green in color, then turns a reddish-purple, when ripe, usually mid.-summer, the berry is a dark blue color. Cranberries, bilberries, and grouseberries are in the same family as blueberries.

Today's cultivated blueberries are distinct from wild blueberries in a few ways. The cultivated blueberry plants are called highbush and the wild blueberries are called lowbush. The real difference has to do with size, the wild berry is much smaller than their bigger, juicy cultivated cousins.

Medicinal and Culinary Use

Today we know that blueberries are good for us because they have such high levels of antioxidant phytonutrients, especially beneficial are the anthocyanins that come from the blueberries rich color that helps neutralize damage that can lead to a multitude of ailments in our skin, tissue, and cells.

Native Americans prescribed blueberry tea as a muscle relaxant, especially for women during childbirth.  Blueberries were also boiled and reduced down into a thick heavy syrup that was used to treat coughs, colds, and sore throats. The Algonquin used an infusion of leaves for infants with colic. They also used an infusion of the roots to induce labor.  The Chippewa would put blueberry flowers on a hot stone and use the fumes as an inhalant for "craziness."  The Iroquois used blueberries in ceremonies for those desiring health in the coming season.

The First Thanksgiving Jean Louis Gerome Ferris

It is said that Native Americans gave blueberries to the pilgrims to help them through their first winter. A favorite dish of the Native Americans was Sautauthig which is like a simple pudding made with blueberries, cracked corn (or samp), and water.  The settlers liked this dish too; and eventually added sugar, milk, and butter to it.  Many historians believe that some form of this was served at the first Thanksgiving.

Native Americans enjoy this berry year round.  They dried the berries, added them whole to stews, soups, and meat as well as to puddings and cakes.  They also crushed blueberries into a powder and rubbed it on meat to help preserve it.

Did you Know...

In the early 20th century, people didn't think blueberries could be domestically cultivated.  In 1911, Elizabeth White, the daughter of a farmer from New Jersey worked with botanist Frederick Coville to crossbreed and create new blueberry varieties. In 1912, the team had a successful field of blueberry plants and by 1916 White and Coville harvested and sold the first commercial crop of highbush blueberries in New Jersey, and the rest is history!

Blueberries are grown in 38 states.  Ten states account for more than 98% of U.S. commercial production: California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington.

The largest producer of blueberries in the world is the United States followed by Canada, Poland, Germany, Mexico, France, Netherlands, and Spain.

The Institute for American Indian Studies

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.

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.

Bark Basket Workshop June 24

Native Americans have created baskets for centuries. In fact, archeologists believe that baskets making is one of the oldest known crafts in the world.  If you have always wanted to learn how to create a Native American bark basket, join the workshop conducted by Jennifer Lee of Pequot and Narragansett ancestry on June 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Institute of American Indian Studies located on 38 Curtis Road in Washington, Connecticut. 

About Native American Baskets

Native American baskets range from very simple to very elaborate and the art of basket making was passed down from generation to generation among Native American Indian mothers to their daughters.  

Ash trinket mokok with collar 

The first step in bark basket making was the harvesting of pine, ash or birch bark in the spring.  The bark was then folded into the shape of a container and sewn together with spruce root and rimmed with Arrowwood or Red Osier Dogwood.  Bark baskets made by Eastern Woodland Indians were used for cooking, gathering berries, hauling water, storing food, as cradleboards and even for burying the dead.  

About the Workshop

Jennifer Lee is an 18th-century re-enactor and material culture presenter that offers a variety of programs including bark basket making demonstrations and workshops.  She portrays an Algonkian woman of the 1750 era. Lee is also a teller of history and traditional stories. "I want my programs to dispel old stereotypes and increase awareness of present-day Native Americans."

White Pine bark mokok with poinsettia appliqué 

Participants in this workshop will learn about the lore and tradition of basket making while creating their very own bark basket.  Lee will guide participants through the process of creating a bark basket using white pine bark, spruce root, and willow. Participants can choose from three different basket designs and are sure to treasure their creation at the end of the day.

To participate in this workshop, please pre-register by calling (860) 868-0518 or emailing general@iaismuseum.org to reserve your spot.  The cost of this workshop ranges from $50 to $60 depending on the basket that you choose to make.  Please note that prepayment is required.

Solstice, Strawberries and Summer @ American Indian Archeological Institute

Celebrating the longest day of the year during Summer Solstice has gone on for centuries, and some of the most interesting celebrations and rituals are those practiced by Native Americans.  This year Summer Solstice occurs on June 21 and the Institute of American Indian Studies in Washington Connecticut is planning to celebrate this celestial event with an easy walk, stories, and strawberries.

On Thursday, June 21, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. get ready for an evening of fun, stories and strawberries with the staff of the American Indian Archeological Institute in Washington Connecticut. Participants on this adventure will learn about the significance of the summer solstice in various cultures and how it has been celebrated around the world.

The word solstice comes from the Latin words for sun and to stop because, on this particular day, the sun appears to pause in the sky when it reaches its northernmost point from the equator.  As you stroll along the forest path, you will learn about the many interesting rituals and celebrations that are practiced by Native Americans.  The "medicine wheel," for example, is considered to be a celestial observatory built hundreds of years ago by the Plains Indians to indicate where the sun rose and set on the summer solstice; while the Pueblo Indians created a solar marking site at Fajada Butte in Chaco Canyon.  In Connecticut, according to the New England Historical Society, there are 62 ancient stone structures that are oriented to the stars and planets.

The Summer Solstice Walk concludes in a 17th-century authentic replica of the Institute's Algonkian Village.  The perfect conclusion to the walk is to sit by the fire and listen to the stories that have come down to us from the ages as the shadows fall around the surrounding wigwams.  A special strawberry treat will be served.  As one of the first fruits of summer, Native Americans believe that strawberries represent life and good health.

The Institute for American Indian Studies

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.

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.

Strawberry Moon Festival June 16

For millennia, Native American tribes tracked the change of seasons by following the lunar full moon cycle and named each full moon for the attributes of the season. June's full moon was called the "Strawberry Moon" because of the red berries that began to ripen in early summer.  Eventually, Colonial Americans adopted Native American names for the full moon and incorporated them into the modern calendar that is used today.

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!

The Institute has organized games, food, and stories that honor the importance of this fruit to Native American culture.  Strawberries have been used for centuries as medicine, in cuisine, and ceremonially by Native Americans and 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 that teach the importance of giving thanks to the bounty of the Earth. A highlight of this event will be samplings of complimentary food such as strawberry tea and strawberry bread made from locally grown fruit.  Special activities for children are planned from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The cost of this event is $10 for adults, $8 for Seniors, $6 for children and is free of charge for members of the Institute.

A Native American Story About the Strawberry

In the beginning, there was the first man and first woman, they lived together and were very happy. Eventually, they began to quarrel and the woman left the man and started off toward the Sun land (Nundagunyi) in the east.  The man followed her, but she kept on going, never looking back.  The Creator pitied the man and asked him if he was still angry with the woman, he said no and asked the Creator to help him win her back. 

The Creator caused a beautiful patch of huckleberries to spring up on the path in front of the woman, but she did not stop.  Farther on, the Creator put a clump of blackberries on her path, which she did not acknowledge. Other fruits and trees were placed in front of her to no avail.  Then she came upon the first known patch of ripe red strawberries. She stopped and tasted a strawberry, and then another. As she began to pick the strawberries and put them in her basket she thought of her the first man, and looking west, began to miss him.

No longer upset, she packed her basket with strawberries and started for home.   The first man met the first woman on the path, his heart soared when he saw her smiling and heard her singing.  He wanted to tell her how much he missed her.   Smiling she put her hand to his lips and placed a strawberry in his mouth. Silently, the first man gave thanks to the Creator for this wonderful gift of fruit that brought the first woman back to him.  Hand in hand they returned to the village, eating strawberries along the way.

This tale is of Cherokee origin.

The Institute for American Indian Studies

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.

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.

Free Admission to IAIS on Open House Day June 9, 2018!

Connecticut Open House Day is an annual event scheduled the second Saturday of June, where cultural organizations and tourism attractions throughout the state open their doors to invite folks to discover – and rediscover  Connecticut's museums.  One of the best ways to celebrate Open House Day is at the Institute of American Indian Studies located on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut.  Best of all, on June 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. visitors will get in free!

If you want to learn about archeology and native cultures past and present, this is the place to visit.  A special highlight of the Open House Day at the Institute will be the traditional flute music played by Allan Madahbee, Ojibway artist, and musician.   In Native American culture, the flute is deeply rooted in Eastern Woodland Indian traditions as well as in the culture of indigenous peoples of the Americas.  The sound of the flute is hauntingly beautiful and unforgettable. The gift shop is also offering an interesting selection of these rare handmade flutes crafted by Madahbee.

The Collections at IAIS are divided into two categories, Ethnographic and Archaeological. Both categories of the collection are used for exhibition, research, and study. 

The Ethnographic Collection contains over 6,000 cultural items and represents indigenous communities throughout the Western Hemisphere. Ethnographic items generally date to the near (Post-European contact) past. The objects were collected, purchased, bartered from or gifted by indigenous owners to others, and often passed down as heirlooms by indigenous and non-indigenous families. These objects represent the diverse history and continued presence of Native American societies, many of whom still dwell on the homelands of their ancestors and maintain their cultural traditions today.

The Archaeological collection features over 300,000 artifacts representing over 1,300 New England Native American archaeological sites. Archaeological items are mostly from below-ground archaeological sites. Some, however, were disturbed from their original location and brought to the surface either by natural causes or human activity. The vast majority of these are nonperishable items such as stone tools and clay pottery fragments. Most of the perishable materials used in the past are rarely found due to the acidic soils and temperate climate of the Northeast. 

The archaeological collections in the care of the IAIS span over 12,000 years of indigenous history, including objects from the oldest known site in Connecticut: the Templeton site (6LF21) in Washington. 

The IAIS holds overall the largest collection of artifacts from Western Connecticut anywhere in the state. This collection spans from the earliest known occupation to the colonial and Federalist periods of Euro-American history and holds enormous historical significance. The majority of the sites where these artifacts were retrieved have been destroyed by urban development, river erosion, sea level rise or other factors. The only remains of the culture and activities from these sites are the items in this collection.

The Institute for American Indian Studies

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.

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.

Lecture - Recent Excavations @ Templeton Site

If you are interested in Native American archeology in Connecticut, don't miss the lecture on May 20 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the recent findings of the Templeton Site in Washington at the Institute of American Indian Studies located on 38 Curtis Road. The cost to attend this event is $5 and light refreshments will be served. The public is encouraged and welcomed to attend.

Templeton Site Biface Production

The Presentation

The presenter, Dr. Singer is a specialist on the Paleo-Indian period in American history, which is the earliest known human epoch in Northeastern North America, which followed the end of the Wisconsin glaciation. 

This presentation will highlight the results of the 2016 and 2017 archaeological excavations at the Templeton site which is the oldest known archaeological site in Connecticut.  Amazingly, its Paleo-Indian component has been radiocarbon-dated to 11,190 years before the present.  

Dr. Singer will present new interpretations of raw material selection and toolstone use, artifact composition, and intra-site patterning in the Paleo-Indian component. Don’t miss this exciting lecture on one of the most significant archaeological sites in the Northeast!

Site Background

The Templeton site was discovered and originally excavated in the late 1970s by archaeologists from the Institute of American Indian Studies under the direction of the Director of Research, Dr. Roger Moeller, who published a book on his findings –6LF21: A Paleo-Indian Site in Western Connecticut.  

Dr. Singer, a research associate at The Institute is currently excavating the Templeton site. His recent excavations were facilitated by collaboration among members of the local Washington community, including the Litchfield Hills Archaeology Club, the Friends of the Office of State Archaeology, the Norwalk Community College Archaeology Club, New Hampshire SCRAP,  and archaeology field schools from Western Connecticut State University and the University of Connecticut.  In addition many avocational archaeologists and professional archaeologists also participated. 

The Institute for American Indian Studies

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.

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.

Wampum Demonstration with Annawon Weeden May 19

In 20th century slang, the word wampum was commonly used to denote money along with such terms as loot, moolah, and even clams, a far cry from what it meant to Native Americans who used wampum to foster spiritual and social bonds among the Native communities.  The fascinating story of wampum will be told at a special Wampum Demonstration & Talk with Annawon Weeden, from the Mashpee/ Wampanoag tribe on Saturday, May 19,  at the Institute for American Indian Studies.

About Wampum

Wampum is composed of white and purple beads and discs fashioned from two different shells.  The white beads are made from the whelk, a sea snail and the purple beads are made from a quahog.  These shells are found in the ocean water south of Cape Cod to New York, with an abundance of them in Long Island Sound.

The shells were harvested in the warm summer months, and after the meat was eaten, the shells were drilled and polished.  A hole was pierced through the shell so they could be strung on strings made from plant fibers or animal tendons.  Typically tubular in shape, the beads were then woven into belts, necklaces, headpieces, bracelets, earrings and other adornments. The beads were even used at day-long games with the winners taking the wampum bounty.

The color of the beads had meaning for the Algonquians.  The white beads represented purity and light and were used as gifts to mark important events like births and marriages. The purple beads represented serious events like war or death.  The combination of these beads represented the duality of the world, light, and darkness, man, and woman, life, and death.

Wampum in New England

In New England, Eastern Woodland Native Americans wore wampum for centuries to show one's station and obligation to the tribe.  Before European contact wampum was often kept on strings and were used for storytelling, ceremonial gifts, and recording important treaties and historical events.

There was no printed currency when colonists arrived.  Colonists saw how much value was placed on wampum by Native communities they decided to adopt it as a means of trade.  Massachusetts Bay Colony officially recognized wampum as a currency in 1650 and rates of exchange were formalized.  In New England, wampum was legal tender from 1637-1661, and in New York until 1673.  By 1661, the wampum valuation law was repealed and replaced by minted coins. Wampum lost most of its trade value when colonial merchants shifted from the fur trade to timber and shipbuilding.

Wampum Today & The Workshop

Today, Native artists and culture bearers continue to craft wampum jewelry and use wampum belts to record tribal history.  At this workshop on May 19 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington participants will learn about the significance of wampum and how it continues to provide a social and spiritual bong among Native communities.   A highlight of this workshop will be to watch the remarkable process of how wampum is made while listening to the stories the beads tell as they are strung.

The Institute for American Indian Studies

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.

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.