Plants have served as the basis of medicine since time immemorial and they still compose the vast majority of medicines today. Special guest Kathleen Hildebrand Meckel addresses the topic of Alaska Native medicinal plants. She shares her knowledge about the types, uses, and harvest of medicinal plants in spring, as well as the importance of preserving and perpetuating this cultural wisdom. Kathleen discusses some specific plants to harvest in May such as balsam poplar, spruce tips, and willow. She provides instructions on how to create salves and teas from them. To view “Tugging at Our Roots- Alaska Native Medicinal Plants” visit www.morristhompsoncenter.org/past-online-events.
This program is the May episode in Denakkanaaga’s Our People Speak series, which focuses on seasonal Alaska Native cultural topics. Please join us every second Friday of the month for discussions of a new topic by esteemed guest speakers. This program and series are proudly brought to you by the partnership between Denakkanaaga, Tanana Chiefs Conference, and the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. Please visit the “Events” tab on the Morris Thompson Center website to view upcoming and past programs and to sign up for updates about future cultural programs. For more information about this series and other programs hosted by Denakkanaaga, please visit www.denakkanaaga.org