Wiingaashk (Sweetgrass) Braid
This Wiingaashk (Ween-gahshk) Sweetgrass braid, also known as "Holy Grass," is hand-harvested by a First Nations community in Canada. Each braid measures 4 to 7 inches and is hand-tied with natural white cotton.
Sweetgrass holds a sacred place in the ceremonies and rituals of many Indigenous cultures, representing cleansing, healing, and positive energy. The Menominee (Meh-noh-mee-nee) people of Wisconsin, whose traditional lands are centered around the Menominee River, call it Wiingaashk (Ween-gahshk), honoring its ability to cleanse both the body and mind, and use it in ceremonies to connect with the spirit world. The Cree (Kree) of Canada, whose territory extends across central and northern Canada, refer to Sweetgrass as Wihkask (Wee-kusk) and burn it in rituals to invite good spirits, purify spaces, and foster healing. The Anishinaabe (Ah-nish-in-ah-bay) people, whose traditional territory spans the Great Lakes region, including parts of present-day Michigan, Ontario, and Manitoba, call Sweetgrass Mashkodewashk (Mash-ko-day-washk) and use it as one of their four sacred medicines in purification and healing ceremonies. Among the Lakota (Lah-koh-tah) of the Northern Plains, including regions of present-day North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska, Sweetgrass is known as Pteíŋyukča (Peh-teen-yook-cha), and it is used in rituals to purify individuals and spaces, as well as to connect with ancestors and the spirit world.
This Sweetgrass braid is giving reparations, honoring the many ways Sweetgrass sustains and heals Indigenous communities around the world.
Additional Cultural Information:
- Menominee translates to "wild rice people," highlighting their traditional connection to land and resources.
- Cree comes from the French word Kristenaux (Krees-tay-no), a form of Kenistenoag (Keh-nee-steh-noh-ahg), meaning "the people."
- Anishinaabe means "original people" and includes culturally related groups like the Ojibwe, living around the Great Lakes region.
- Lakota means "allies" or "friends" in their own language, representing the close kinship within the tribe.