Participants explored the rich tradition of Native American plant medicine during a guided walk along the Mountain-Bay State Trail in Bowler on July 1.
Led by educator and author Misty Cook, the program welcomed 12 participants eager to learn about the medicinal plants growing around them.
Cook opened the walk by sharing the history of how native plant medicine knowledge was passed down through generations by oral tradition.
She traced the lineage from Granny Gardner (1830-1936), through her daughters, and then to her granddaughters, Mary Burr (1901-91) and Ella Besaw (1902-90). The knowledge was later passed to David Besaw (1944-2011), Cook’s cousin and teacher.
Recognizing the importance of preserving these traditional teachings for future generations, Cook became the first to document many of them in writing. Her book, “Medicine Generations,” was published in 2013 and is available through most major bookstores.
As the group walked the trail, participants discovered and learned about several native medicinal plants including yarrow, wild strawberry, tag alder, pine pitch, burdock, nettle, plantain and sumac. Cook explained the traditional methods of identifying, preparing, storing and using each plant, providing a glimpse into centuries of Indigenous knowledge and healing practices.
The walk was one of many special events being offered throughout 2026 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Mountain-Bay State Trail. Organizers expect to add another native plant medicine walk to this summer’s anniversary activities.
Community members are encouraged to watch the Friends of the Mountain-Bay State Trail-Shawano County events calendar and Facebook page for updates, as well as information on other anniversary events, guided hikes, family activities and educational programs.
For a complete schedule of events, visit https://www.friendsofthemountainbaytrailshawano.org/events.html.
As participants strolled along there Mountain-Bay State Trail on a guided walk, they learned about several native medicinal plants including yarrow, wild strawberry, tag alder, pine pitch, burdock, nettle, plantain and sumac. (Contributed)
