Ground ivy
Elaine tending to the plants in her garden. (Credit: Simona Rosenfield)
Story told by Elaine Delaronde
I had an experience with ground ivy when I was living in Ahkwesáhsne. I was looking at the garden where the grass was ploughed over for a new addition to the garden. I was thinking of all the work that needed to be done to make it workable.
That morning, I had a sore back and my chest felt congested. I wondered if there was any medicine that I could take to clear my lungs and help my back.
I decided to go back in the house to nap when I heard these clicking sounds. Click click click all over the ground.
Jars of natural medicines and homemade remedies stocked at Elaine's home. (Credit: Emma Mclaughlin)
I stopped and looked up. I thought it was big raindrops falling but there were blue skies with puffy white clouds.
Then I thought that it might be the bugs. When I started looking closer, the clicking noise got quiet. All over the ground were these trailing plants with doily leaves and tiny purple flowers.
I picked the plant and went inside. I looked for the plant in a couple of books and found a plant called “ground ivy”.
The information on ground ivy said that it’s good for respiratory issues and that you can pick the aerial parts to make tea. It’ll help to clear your lungs. On top of that, in the book, a guy said that it helped to ease his back pain.
This was the first time I felt a true connection with plant medicine. The plant heard what I was thinking and was ready to help. It made the cultural teachings more real: “All our relations.” We have more than just human connections, we also have connections with plants, animals, and the whole natural world.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Ground ivy
Ground Ivy also known as Glechoma Hederacea. (Courtesy: Wiki Commons)
Elaine Delaronde IAKOKÁ:RATON
Wa'tewakatierónnion'se' ne Ground ivy Ahkwesáhsne shitkenákere'. Tsi kahéhtaien' ia'tekkà:nerehkwe' tsi nón:we teken'takahrháthon ne kahentà:ke iakhehtawénhtate'. Kanonhtonniónhehkwe' tó: nikaio'tenhserowá:nen nè:'e aieweiennén:ta'ne'.
Né: tho shiiohrhon'kehtsherá:te', wakeronhkwe'nòn:wakskwe' tánon' BLANK. Onkerihwaióha' tóka' thé:nen kanonhkwa'tsherá:ien' ne aón:ton' á:katste' BLANK tánon' aonkétsenhte' keronhkwe'nà:ke.
Ia'tewakerihwaién:ta'se' kanónhskon iaonsakatáweia'te' ne ken’ nikarihwésha aonkí:ta’we’ thó:ne onkwathón:te’ne’ ------ tsik nón:we onhontsa’kéhshon.
Wa’tékta’ne’ tánon’ wa’katahrakétsko’. Wà:kehre’ kahstarowá:nen’s iokennó:ron nek tsi teioronhiáthehkwe’ tánon’ watshatarà:ken’s.
Sok wà:kehre’ tóka’ nòn:wa otsi’nonwa’shòn:’a ki' nen' nè:'e Sénha ákta sha’kka’én:ion’, tha’tewató:tate’ thí:ken ---- iorá:kahre’. Tsik nón:we onhontsà:ke kaienthohserì:sere' kí:ken ionontó:ton tsi iotenerahtátie' tánon’ ken'k nikón:na's oharennáhta’ niiotsi’tsò:ten’s.
Wà:kko’ ne kaienthóhsera’ sok ionsakátaweia’te’. Tóhkara nikahiatonhserá:ke wa’kewennahnó:ten’. Wa’kerihwí:sake’ ne kaienthóhsera’ sok wa’ketshén:ri’ kí:ken kaienthóhsera’ “ground ivy” konwá:iats.
Kahiá:ton tsi kanonhkwa’tsherí:io tóka’ iakotónrio’kte’ tánon’ enwá:ton’ énhsko’ ne è:neken o’kenhrà:ke tkà:nios ne tí: ahsathnekónnia’te’. Ensaia’takéhnha’ aonsontkenhóhsi’ ne satsinà:kwa’. Nok ò:ni’, kahiá:ton ne kahiatónhsera’, shaià:ta rón:kwe rá:wen roia’takéhnhen aontaio’serón:nenhte’ tsi roronhkwe’nanòn:waks.
Né: kí:ken tontié:renhte’ tó:kenske wa’káttoke’ teiakenì:neren ne kaienthóhsera’ onónhkwa’. Wa’othón:te’ nahò:ten’ kanonhtonniónhehkwe’ ne kaienthóhsera’ tánon’ iotateweiennentà:’on aontia’takéhnha’. Sénha ki’ wakarihwahní:rate’ nahò:ten’ ionkhirihonnién:ni tsi niionkwarihò:ten: Akwé:kon tewatátenonhkwe’. Ísi’ nón: tetewà:neren tsi ní:ioht nón:kwe, tetewà:neren ni’ ò:ni’ ne kaienthóhsera’, kontírio, tánon’ akwé:kon nahò:ten’ sha’oié:ra.
Translated by Sahawisó:ko’ Arquette