Medicine

This shrub thrives in wet, swampy areas, along riverbanks, and in the moist soils of northern forests. It is an incredibly common sight throughout the wetlands of the Iron Range and the Great Lakes region.

Labrador Tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum) is a hardy, slow-growing evergreen shrub native to the boreal bogs and muskegs of North America. It is best identified by its leathery, oblong leaves with edges rolled downward and, most critically, a dense, woolly fuzz on the underside that matures from white to a distinctive rusty orange. This specific characteristic is essential for distinguishing it from highly toxic lookalikes that share its habitat.

Yarrow Botanical Identification Common Names: Yarrow, Common Yarrow, Milfoil, Thousand-leaf, Waabano-washk (Anishinaabemowin - "Eastern Medicine"), Ajidamoowaanow (Anishinaabemowin - "Squirrel Tail"). Latin Name: Achillea millefolium . Plant Species: Achillea belongs to the aster family (Asteraceae). Known Habitat: Yarrow is incredibly adaptable and widespread across North America, particularly thriving in the Great Lakes, Plains, and Woodland regions. It is commonly f

Sage is one of the Four Sacred Medicines (alongside Sweetgrass, Cedar, and Tobacco). It is widely used by the Anishinaabe, Lakota, Dakota, Cheyenne, Navajo (Diné), and numerous coastal and southwestern nations.

Today, as we work to light the path for the next generation, reclaiming the teachings of Cedar is a vital act of cultural sovereignty.

For countless generations, the earth has provided everything needed to heal, protect, and sustain our communities. The deep woods, high plains, and alpine meadows were never just landscapes—they were our original pharmacy, our grocery store, and our greatest teachers.

Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is a unique fungus found in cold, northern forests, growing almost exclusively on birch trees. It doesn’t look like a typical mushroom; instead, it appears as a hard, blackened, crusty mass that resembles a large clump of burnt charcoal.