Wiingashk and the Hair of Grandmother Earth
The braided wiingashk (sweetgrass) that tethers the panels of this box is of particular significance to the Odawa people. One of the four sacred plants of the Anishinaabe medicine wheel (White Earth Nation 2011b), wiingashk is considered the hair of Nookmis Akiin (Grandmother Earth). In making, wiingask is separated into three strands (symbolizing mind, body, and spirit), and braided (White Earth Nation 2011a).
Today, sweetgrass is rare because it has been wasted by those who use it without respect for the selflessness with which it lets itself be used (Green 2013). Anishinaabe makers now carefully harvest the sweetgrass using a special cultivation method that allows the plant to regrow (Pilette 2009).
Follow these links to learn more about wiingashk and the four sacred plants, sweetgrass cultivation, and the Anishinaabe medicine wheel.