Entry Detail


blueberry


Entry Type:  
Species
Scientific Name:  
Common Name:  
blueberry
Myaamia Name:  
pinkomini

Media 
Media not available.
Myaamia Archival Sources  
Reference Source Reference Type Archival Data Comments
Kenton, E. 1925 Use - Food 

Blueberries were brought to the missionaries for eating.

Gonella, M.P 2003-2006 Use - Food 

Wild blueberries were picked and eaten while growing up.

Gonella, M.P 2003-2006 Description 

The blueberries referenced by Kenton could be any number of species, including common lowbush-blueberry (V. angustifolium), hillside blueberry (V. pallidum), velvetleaf blueberry (V. myrtilloides), highbush blueberry (V. corymbosum), and deerberry (V. stamineum) according to blueberry species listed in Coulter (1899) and using nomenclature from Gleason and Cronquist (1991).

Dunn, J.P. ca. 1900 Use - Food 

"pĭ́n-gō-min-i, blueberry, huckleberry"

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

All possible species occur in dry uplands soils, and all but V. stamineum occur in moist or swamp/bogs as well. V. angustifolium and V. myrtilloides occur only in portions of eastern Myaamia lands, while the remaining three species occur in both eastern and western Myaamia lands.

Related Sources  
Reference Source Reference Type Data Comments
Spears, T. 2003 , October 27  

Studies by chemist John Thor Arnason of the University of Ottawa, using lab animals, have shown that some blueberry and evergreen tree extracts help control Type 2 diabetes. Federal funds were awarded to Ottawa and Montreal scientists from Health Canada and the Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health to study the effects of these plants and other traditional Cree medicines in fighting diabetes.

Blair, E 1912  

Dunn quotes Perrot who compares the Illinois/Myaamia with the "Algonkins" (i.e. the Canada tribe), the former who cultivate corn and other crops and the latter who primariy hunt. Of these people he states that "they gather there [northern country] plenty of blueberries in the months of August and September, which they are careful to dry and keep for a time of need".

Bush, L. L 1996  

Human charred remains of Vaccinium sp. were recovered from an excavation site at an early Myaamia Village at the forks of the Wabash River (Fort Wayne), 1795-1812 (Ehler Site).

Staff Reporters 2019  

Pow Wow by Pokagon band of Potawatomi tribe held on Labor Day in St. Patrick's Park near South Bend, Indiana. This gathering celebrates the end of blueberry season, an important ritual to this band who were farmers, hunters, and gatherers.

Bush L. L. 2003  

Archaeological studies in central and south-central Indiana revealed that blueberries were utilized as a food source by indigenous peoples sometime during the period of A.D. 1000 to A.D. 1450.