Spring Harvest Opportunities...from glifwc

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Spring harvest opportunities

Introduction      During 2000 and 2001, GLIFWC staff interviewed tribal elders regarding non-medicinal uses of plants. With approval from the elders, we have decided to share this information in the form of a harvest calendar.      In this section, the harvest calendar is devoted to those plants that may be gathered for non-medicinal uses during the upcoming ziigwan (spring) months of onaabani-giizis, hard crust on the snow moon (March); iskigamizige-giizis, maple sugar moon (April); and waabigwanii-giizis, flower moon (May). Tree Sap  sugar, syrup, candy ininaatig wiishkobaaboo—sugar maple sap zhiishiigimiiwanzh waboo—red maple sap adjagobimak waboo—box elder sap wiigwaas mitig waboo—paper (white) birch sap wiinizik waaboo—yellow birch sap wadoop mitig waboo—alder sap   Sap Processing Utensils  boughs used to stop sap boil over; wood used for tree taps and sap stirring paddles zhingob waatigwaanan—balsam fir boughs zhingob waatigwaanan—black spruce boughs gaawaandag waatigwaanan—white spruce boughs giizhik waatigwaanan—white cedar boughs giizhik misan—white cedar wood wiigob misan—basswood wood moozo gawinzh misan—moosewood wood apaakwaanaatig misan—sumac wood Greens and Flowers  raw, sauteed, steamed, boiled, deep fried, soup waagaagan—ferns (young shoots) nessibag aniibiishan—clover leaves __waabigoniin aniibiishan—cowslips leaves doodooshaaboojiibik aniibiishan—dandelion leaves bagwaji zhigaagawinzhiig aniibiishan—wild leek leaves __shaaboosigan aniibiishan—milkweed leaves *watercress leaves *pigweed leaves *aster leaves anajiiminan—wild peas *beach peas datgaagmin inaskoon—thimbleberry stems apakweshkway inaskoon—cattail stems *wild asparagus stems apakweshkway waabigwaniin—cattail flowers doodooshaaboojiibik waabigwaniin—dandelin flowers bibigwemin waabigwaniin—elderberry flowers wazhaskwedoonsag—morel mushrooms __Must be properly prepared, see disclaimer. Fruits  raw, jams, jellies, pie fillings ode-iminan—strawberries Roots  roasted, sauteed, steamed, boiled waabiziipin ojiibikan—arrowhead (moose ears) roots oga'damun ojiibikan—yellow water lily roots bagwaji zhigaagawinzhiig—wild leeks bagwaji zhigaagananzhiig—wild onions apakweshkway ojiibikan—cattail roots anaakanashk ojiibikan—bulrush roots anaakanashk ojiibikan—rush roots doodooshaaboojiibikan ojiibikan—dandelion roots namepin ojiibikan—wild ginger roots   Miigwech to those speakers in Mille Lacs, Minnesota and Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin for their help in providing us with the Ojibwe names for these plants. *We have been unable to find the names for these plants in Ojibwemowin.

Tea  de'imin aniibiishan—strawberry leaves apakwanagemag aniibiishan—red pine leaves (new growth) wiinisiibag aniibiishan—wintergreen leaves mashkigobag aniibiishan—swamp (Labrador) tea leaves kaakaagiwanzh aniibiishan—hemlock leaves zhingob aniibiishan—balsam fir leaves giizhik aniibiishan—white cedar leaves mishkomin mitigosan—raspberry stems okwemin nagek—black cherry bark asasawemin wategwaanan—choke cherry twigs wiinzik—yellow birch bud tips wiigwaas mitig—white (paper) birch bud tips doodooshaaboojiibik ojiibikan—dandelion roots Tobacco  nessibag aniibishan—clover leaves doodooshaaboojiibik aniibishan—dandelion leaves bagaaniminzh aniibishan—hazelnut leaves datgaawanzh aniibishan—thimbleberry leaves wiinisiibag aniibiishan—wintergreen leaves *pigweed leaves miskwaabiimizh aniibishan—red willow (kinnickinnick) bark wiigob ojiibikan—basswood roots Insect Repellents  giizhik aniibishan—white cedar leaves miskwaabiimizh waaboo—red willow sap Decorations  *trailing arbutus flowers oziisigobimizh waabigwaniin—pussy willow flowers wiigwaas—paper (white) birch bark lodges, baskets, containers, canoes, caskets, scoops, cradle boards, ornaments, firestarter Disclaimer      While the list identifies those plants that can be harvested during the summer months, we strongly recommend that before you pick them, you meet with elders in your community to talk about proper ways of harvesting, times of harvesting and proper preparation of the plants before eating them.      This is important because some plants need to be harvested in certain ways to ensure that they will continue to grow, while other plants need to be properly washed and prepared prior to eating or using them. In addition, those elders can also help you in different uses of these plants.