Ancient and Present Uses of Common Native Plants
This exhibit features ten common native plants that grow in this geographical area and were used for food and medicine by the Miwok. The Miwok who inhabited the Sierra Nevada regions relied heavily upon surrounding plants. These same plants are used by herbalists today for first aid and other medicinal purposes. Contemporary herbalists believe that some of the more helpful medicinal herbs, used for common ailments that you would treat yourself, grow near where you live.
The information, photos, and plant material in this display were provided by Dodie Harte, director and teacher at Sierra Institute of Herbal Studies, Big Oak Flat. Sierra Institute offers hands-on learning about medicinal herbs, native plants, and herbal medicine making: www.sierra-institute.com. Much appreciation goes to Robert Fry for providing information and consultation on the Miwok uses of these plants.
Resources:
Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West by Muriel Sweet, Naturegraph Publishers, Inc. Happy Camp, California, 1976.
The Field Guide to Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs by Steven Foster & Christopher Hobbs, The Peterson Field Guide Series, Houghton Mifflin Co., New York, NY, 2002
Brown Tadd-MiWok, One Miwok's View of Native Food Preparations and the Medicinal Uses of Plants by Brown Tadd, Published by Three Forests Interpretative Assoc., 1994
Miwok Material Culture, Indian Life of the Yosemite Region by S. A. Barrett & E. W. Gifford, Published by the Yosemite Natural History Assoc., Inc. 1933
Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West by Michael Moore, Red Crane Books, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1993
Edible & Medicinal Plants of the West by Gregory L. Tilford, Mountain Press Publishing Co., Missoula, Montana, 1997
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