Community members are invited to explore the healing plants growing along the Mountain-Bay State Trail during a Native American Plant Medicines Walk led by author and herbal educator Misty Cook from 6-7 p.m. June 30. A rain date is scheduled for July 1.
Participants will meet at the Red Bridge, 310 W. Rollman St. in Bowler, for a guided half-mile round-trip walk focused on traditional Native American medicines used by the Stockbridge- Munsee Band of Mohicans Tribe.
Cook, author of “Medicine Generations: Natural Native American Medicines Traditional to the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans Indian Tribe,” will share the history, identification, gathering, drying, preservation and traditional uses of medicinal plants found throughout the area. Attendees will learn how local plants have been used for generations in teas, tinctures, salves, and poultices to support healing and health.
Drawing on more than 20 years of experience working with traditional medicines, Cook has. documented 58 Native American herbal medicines passed down through oral tradition within her family’s Wolf Clan lineage. Her book highlights the cultural significance of these plants and provides guidance for their identification and traditional preparation.
This special program is part of the yearlong celebration marking the 30th anniversary of the Mountain-Bay State Trail. The anniversary celebration includes a variety of educational, recreational and family-friendly events taking place throughout the summer and fall across the trail corridor.
The walk offers a unique opportunity to learn about the natural resources growing along the Mountain-Bay State Trail while gaining insight into Indigenous knowledge and traditions.
For information about this event and other activities planned as part of the Mountain-Bay State Trail’s 30th anniversary celebration, visit the Friends of the Mountain-Bay State Trail- Shawano County website at friendsofthemountainbaytrailshawano.org and check the Events section for updates.
