Entry Detail


common blackberry


Entry Type:
Species
Scientific Name:  
Common Name:  
common blackberry
Myaamia Name:  
makiinkweemina

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Reference Source Reference Type Archival Data Comments
Dunn, J.P. ca. 1900 Use - Food

The Miami terms "makĭñgwämĭna" and "makĭñgwäminikĭ" (plural form) are the words for blackberry.

Dunn, J.P. ca. 1900 Use - Food

"makĭñgwämĭna, blackberry"

Lamb, E.W., Shultz, L.W. 1964 Use - Medicinal

"The Indian remedy for asthma was a mixture of raspberry and blackberry juice in which leaves from the hoarhound and spearmint had been boiled".

Gravier, J. ca. 1700 Use - Food

"making8eminiki, meure de haye", blackberry

Aatotankiki myaamiaki 1998-2006 Use - Food

Barbara Mullin's recipe, used by Senecas and Quapaws and possibly other tribes local to the Miami, Oklahoma area, used blackberries or blueberries and cornmeal to make a traditional, southern style cornbread.

Rafert, S. 1989 Use - Food

Fruits eaten.

Tulsa World Newspaper 2003 Use - Food

Due to lead, cadmium and zinc contamination in the Tar Creek Superfund Site's watershed, around Miami, Oklahoma and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma's headquarters, Miami and other local tribal members worry that traditional gathering of food, medicine and other items may be contaminated. Fish, wild blackberries, sassafras, pokeweed, basket-making supplies and wild onions could have high concentrations of lead, as do the waters of nearby lakes, and it is not always successful keeping tribal members out of these areas. The Seneca-Cayuga's berry dance could not be held, if all the wild blackberries and strawberries in the area are found to be contaminated.

Gonella, M.P 2003-2006 Use - Food

Used for jelly by Peggy's grandmother Geboe.

Olds, J., Olds, D. and D. Tippman 1999 Use - Medicinal

The root was used to treat diarrhea.

Gonella, M.P 2003-2006 Use - Food

Gathered early in the morning.

Tippman, D. 1999 Use - Food

Wild blackberries picked.

Gatschet, A.S. ca. 1895 Use - Food

In the traditional story of Young Thunder William Pecongah, he describes the crops he had growing on his land 160 acres of reserve in central Indiana.  "There I planted corn, wheat, potatoes, peas, tobacco, beans, apple trees, pumpkins, watermelons, cucumbers, onions, hay, straw, gooseberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants, turnips, tomatoes, pawpaws, cherries, strawberries, plums, blackhaws, peaches, walnut trees, pecans, hickory nuts, barley and rye".

Anonymous 1837 Use - Food

Blackberries mentioned.

Kerr, J. 1835 Use - Food

 "mekexuemeneke, blackberries"

Reference Source Reference Type Data Comments
Gleason, H.A. and Cronquist, A. 1991 Habitat

Occurs on mostly in disturbed areas throughout eastern Myaamia lands, with closely related or hybrids occuring in western Myaamia lands.

Reference Source Reference Type Data Comments
Gonella, M.P 2003-2006  

Rubus taxonomy is complex, confused by hybridization, polyploidy and asexual reproduction, and the group of blackberry species is even less clear. According to Coulter (1899), Small (1903), Steyermark (1963), and Gleason and Cronquist (1991).  It is reasonable to assume that the Myaamia word for blackberry referred to either R. allegheniensis, which was and is very common, or one of less common species including R. orarius, R. argustus, R. canadensis, R. pensilvanicus or R. setosus, or all these Rubus species.

Clark, J.E 1993  

Shawnee collected this plant

Bush L. L. 2003  

Archaeological studies have demonstrated that blackberries were utilized as a food resource by Late Woodland (800 A.D to 1450 A.D.) indigenous peoples of central and  southern Indiana.