Wolfberry

by Bonny Puckett

Title

Wolfberry

Artist

Bonny Puckett

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

The photograph depicts a vibrant wolfberry plant, also known as goji berry, with green leaves and bright ripening green and orange berries hanging from its branches. The plant appears to be thriving in its natural habitat, with sunlight filtering through the leaves and casting a warm glow on the berries.

Native Americans have been using wolfberry plants for centuries for both food and medicine. They would often eat the ripe berries raw or cook them into soups and stews. The plant was considered a superfood, as it is high in vitamins and antioxidants.

In addition to its nutritional benefits, wolfberry plants were also used for their medicinal properties. Native Americans would use the leaves and berries to treat a variety of ailments, such as fever, high blood pressure, and inflammation. They would also brew the leaves into a tea to help with digestion and promote overall wellness.

Overall, the wolfberry plant holds significant cultural and historical importance for Native American communities, as it was a staple in their diet and played a vital role in their traditional healing practices.

There are several Native American tribes in Arizona that historically used wolfberry as a food and medicine source. Some of these tribes include:

Navajo Nation: The Navajo people have a long history of using wolfberry, which they call "dzeel." They use the plant in traditional foods such as soups, stews, and teas, and also use it as a medicinal herb to treat a variety of ailments.

Hopi Tribe: The Hopi people also have a tradition of using wolfberry, which they call "paaki." They use the plant in foods such as porridge and pudding and also use it as a medicinal herb to treat a variety of conditions.

Tohono O'odham Nation: The Tohono O'odham people use wolfberry, which they call "higley," as a traditional food and medicine source. They eat the berries raw or cooked and use the leaves and stems to make a tea that is believed to have medicinal properties.

Yavapai-Apache Nation: The Yavapai-Apache people have a tradition of using wolfberry, which they call "kwak'án," as a food source. They would often mix the berries with other wild fruits to make a sweet snack or add them to stews and soups for flavor.

These are just a few examples of the Native American tribes in Arizona that have historically used wolfberry. Many other tribes throughout the United States and Canada also have a tradition of using this plant for food and medicine.

Several Native American chefs in Arizona incorporate wolfberry into their cuisine. As wolfberry is a traditional food source for many Native American communities in the region, chefs are using it in various dishes to celebrate their culture and heritage.

One example of a chef using wolfberry in Arizona is Nephi Craig, a White Mountain Apache chef who is known for his use of traditional ingredients in his cuisine. Craig has incorporated wolfberry into several of his dishes, including a wolfberry salad with mixed greens, toasted pumpkin seeds, and a wolfberry vinaigrette.

Another example is the Kai Restaurant at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass, which features Native American-inspired cuisine created by Chef Thomas Riordan. The restaurant uses wolfberry in several dishes, including a wolfberry barbecue sauce and a wolfberry compote that is served with a grilled bison ribeye.

Other Native American chefs and restaurants in Arizona that use wolfberry in their cuisine include the Pima-Maricopa Indian Community's Cafe 87, which features a wolfberry bread pudding, and the restaurant at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, which serves a wolfberry salsa as an accompaniment to its fry bread.

Overall, wolfberry is an important ingredient in Native American cuisine, and chefs in Arizona and beyond are using it to celebrate and honor their heritage.

Uploaded

March 10th, 2023

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