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Kinnikinnick facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Kinnikinnick is a special herbal mixture. It was traditionally used by many Native American and First Nations peoples. This mixture is made from different leaves and barks. The exact recipe changes depending on the tribe and where they live. People used kinnikinnick for many reasons. These included social gatherings, spiritual ceremonies, and even for traditional medicine.

What "Kinnikinnick" Means

The word "kinnikinnick" comes from the Unami Delaware language. It means "mixture." In the Ojibwe language, a similar word means "to mix things together by hand."

Over time, European hunters and traders also started using the name "kinnikinnick." They used it for different shrubs whose bark or leaves were part of the mixture. The most common plant called kinnikinnick is the bearberry (Arctostaphylos spp.). Other plants sometimes called kinnikinnick include red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) and silky cornel (Cornus amomum). Even some types of sumac, like evergreen sumac (Rhus virens) and staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), were sometimes given this name.

Traditional Names for Kinnikinnick

Many different Indigenous groups have their own names for this special mixture. Here are some examples:

How Kinnikinnick Was Prepared and Used

The way kinnikinnick was made and used varied a lot. It depended on the specific location and the nation or tribe. For example, some tribes in the eastern parts of North America traditionally used a plant called Nicotiana rustica for social gatherings. Tribes in the western areas often used different kinds of kinnikinnick for special ceremonial uses.

Researchers have studied the ingredients used by various Native American tribes. Some common ingredients found in kinnikinnick mixtures include:

These ingredients were carefully chosen and mixed. The mixtures were used for important cultural, spiritual, and social purposes.

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