Wiikenh - Bitterroot - Red Lake Tribal College
Channel: NewEra4k
Date: 2020-10-09

Also known as sweet flag, Wiikenh is used for sore throats and colds and flus, and is often used by powwow singers to soothe their throats.  It is extremely bitter, but it is a fast acting medicine with instant results.  


Don Kingbird - Cultural Advisor
Floyd "Buck" Jourdain - RLNC Cultural Education Director
Shelly Knight - Red Lake Nation College



Ojibwa: Ingii-shaashaagwamaa awe wiikenh gechi-aakwaadizid.

English: I chewed on some real strong bitterroot.


Tip:  Keep the leaves. Wiikeh leaves have medicine as well. Use all parts. Spread seeds. Pick the leaves that have dry seeds, even better is in the fall, the plant uses way more energy to stay alive and there will be 10x more volatile oils for tea. Use the leaves in tea. Spread the seeds for future generations- this is the best way to put action into "miigwech". Start with a few leaves for a weaker batch to start, but its soooo sweet tasting. Do not boil, never boil. Get the water to 85 degrees Celsius, no hotter, place leaves in and let steep for 8 hours.


Wiikenh - Calamas/sweet flag/rat root/bitter root
This is an amazing medicine that is great for colds, sore throats and is an amazing addition to other medicine mixtures. It is an important note to take in moderation.
The roots or rhizomes is what is used for medicine. It can be found in marshy areas and should be dried after it is harvested.
Be sure to harvest the right plant as a cousin plant called blue flag is commonly mixed up with wiikenh and is poisonous.
As always, make sure to make your semaa offerings before harvesting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLB3P1h4_do



Cinematography by Alexander John Aman of NewEra4k
Edited by Yanni Niteka of Newera4k
Music By A. Paul Ortega - The Trail Song