Wild Mint has been used traditionally for making teas, medicine, and as a fragrance. amisko-wihkaskwa contains an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent known as rosmarinic acid.

Asacred plant of the prairies. Sweetgrass used to grow abundanly but is now becoming uncommon as much of its habitat has been changed or destroyed. wihkaskwa is traditionally used for spiritual cleansing and ceremories as it is believed to bring good spirits and pure influences.

The Saskatoon plant is a member of the rose family and a relative of the apple. The word Saskatoon comes from the Cree word “Mis-saskquah-toomina” and is how the city of Saskatoon got its name. misaskwatomin has been used by First Nations for centuries, and has been a staple food. The young straight shoots of the Saskatoon bush were used to make arrow shafts while berries were dried for winter meals.

Blueberries have been traditionally cooked in lard by First Nations people to store for winter use, or dried in the sun and used in pemicana special paste. iyinimin was also used in the treatment of headaches, sore throats, colds and flues. “iyinimin” plants are also known to have powerful antioxidants.

All parts of the Wild Prickly Rose have been used in First Nation cultures from the root up to young shoots, rose petals and hips. Refreshments, medicinal eyewash and syrup were all made from the rose. The scent of a rose is said to help relieve headaches. mihkokwaniy is often depicted in beadwork and has been used in necklaces. If you eat too many of the seeds, you will probably have digestive discomfort and discover why some First Nations call the hips “itchy bum berries”.

Sage has a traditional precedent of being found in the kitchen, as it is popular in flavouring meats, soups, and stews. paskwawihkwaskwa is also used to cover sweat lodge floors and to ‘smudge’, a sacred ritual of purification using smoke as incense for spiritual cleansing which protects and purifies the people and ceremonial space from negative influences.