Practical Flora Catalog For The Ojibwa / Chippewa Calumet

Overview

Yarrow ● Aster ● Super False Pimpernel ● Mint ● Sumac ● Tobacco ● Bearberry ● Willow ● Dogwood ● Sweetgrass ● Sage ● Cedar ● Fungus ● Moss ● Cattail ● Mescalbean

Contemporary Tobacco Processing Bundle actively in use By The Ribbon Heart Society  

The Heart

Calumet Elders and Holy Persons should protest Industrial, Commercial Colonial State Society Tobacco with humility while being sensitive of situations that warrant tolerating this hyper-commodified, dreadful abomination. Our Maker and Great Spirit values The Heart behind an offering above all.

Mille Lacs Mortar and Pestle 
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Industrial Commercial Tobacco is a diabolically modified organism that is deliberately potentiated with DEADLY additives: Propane, Radioactive Radium, Radioactive Polonium-210 (Po-210), Lead-210 (Pb-210), Menthol, Glycerol, Propylene Glycol, Diesel, Magnesium Oxide, Ammonia, Acetone, m-Cresol, Isobutylene, Formaldehyde and others.

Mille Lacs Knife
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Evil

Evil’s present-day strategy is deception through imitation. Industrial Commercial Tobacco is part of The Corrupt Colonial System, a fusion of materialistic commercialism and occupying power that deceives people through imitation of benevolent customs.

Ojibwa Mortar And Pestle
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The Wind

"Separate the grain from the chaff" : Originating from New Covenant Biblical imagery, John The Baptist advises distinguishing between valuable substance (grains) and worthless refuse (husks / chaff).

Drying Rack LCO
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Spiritually Vulnerable People and Naïve People may substitute Commercial Tobacco for Traditional Tobacco due to ignorance and/or as a situational ethic and these people should not be criticized in a rigid way that causes additional trauma, mistrust, exhaustion and isolation. Authoritarian Leadership, Gatekeeping and fear are not part of The Ojibwa Way; The Way Of The Heart. Being too rigid, too Decolonial, too quickly is the spiritual equivalent of Throwing The Baby Out With The Bath Water. "Throwing the baby out with the bathwater" is an idiomatic expression that means to mistakenly discard something valuable or essential while attempting to get rid of something unwanted or undesirable. It is used as a warning to be careful and not be overly hasty in the process of change or rejection.

People retain the right to the contentment found within Present Truths and The Contemporary Versions Of Themselves. Obsessive Nostalgia (Rumination) signals stress, anxiety, depression and a desire to avoid the present. Be extremely cautious of propagandists and their burden of idealized pasts.

Contemporary Tobacco Processing Bundle actively in use By The Ribbon Heart Society  

Moisture Control And Storage

The ideal moisture content for most Smoking Blends is about 16% by weight. Two-way humidity control (separate open containers of salt and moistened Sandstone) is an effective method for maintaining a consistent relative humidity (around 60-65%) during storage. Choose Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) [Road Salt] as an extremely hygroscopic common desiccant {compared to other salts} whereas it is the deliquescent compounds in salt that readily absorb moisture. Key locations for St. Peter Sandstone are The Michigan Basin, Minnesota(’s) River Bluffs [formally named The Saint Peter River] and The Upper Mississippi Bluffs. Excessive exposure to light / UV (Ultra Violet) radiation, and heat will damage stored botanical components.

Contemporary Tobacco Processing Bundle actively in use By The Ribbon Heart Society  

Compartmentalization As A Disservice

Ever-present is the understanding that the gravid should not engage Tobacco (Nicotiana) because this causes severe human birth defects. Adverse human biological and reproductive interactions with plants should be simply stated instead of assigning and assuming human biological sex “spirits” to non-human Plant Relatives whereas this is another endangering practice in itself and limits learning. Tobacco does not have a masculine human “spirit” nor does any other plant possess a feminine human spirit. Human remedies from plants that are biological sex specific still do not warrant giving plants a human gender “spirit”. While related to Personification, this Anthropomorphism implies the entity acts human and therefore creates a parameter that MUST include human population proportions, prevalence, and population shares of Predators, Sociopaths, Psychopaths, Narcissists, Machiavellians, and so on. Why would anyone teach what non-human entities (plants / objects) reveal by humanizing these, assuming only your humans are automatically moral, while deliberately ignoring/denying human depravity? The answer is that this is a hidden power and deceptive tactic to lead actual, real, present people away from realizing the danger of human depravity. Ignoring the world does not help in making sense of the world. In essence, if your actions create a serious, foreseeable danger to someone else's well-being, you are engaging in an endangering practice. Teaching others to ignore human evil is a fantastically evil practice and strategy. People have a right to be The Contemporary Version Of Themselves and this includes acknowledging Present Truths, Endangering Practices and branches of learning (specialties/disciplines) occurring in the present. The fantasy that plants can be humanly male or female while ignoring the harmful situations and immoral actions that apply to humans is a bizarre Moral Relativism or Compartmentalization. Facing evil requires courage and ignoring it is a disservice to subsequent generations.

Throughout our lives there will be mixtures that are incompatible, calling for Spiritual Separation in loyalties to maintain holiness.

Contemporary Tobacco Processing Bundle actively in use By The Ribbon Heart Society  

Aroma Stereotypes

A Sage and Cedar mixture would conceivably yield Poultry Seasoning and Turkey, Dressing (Stuffing) flavors, however this is not the outcome. Aroma Stereotypes can unintentionally limit the range of Aroma Exploration. On a side note; Criticisms of turkey cookery have led to observances like The National Day Of Morning and therefore a Sage and Cedar Mixture may be befitting for National Mourning.

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Under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
Lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations may request the return of Native American human remains and other cultural items: https://www.bia.gov/service/nagpra/how-to

Harmony

Prepare Smoking Mixtures responsibility with informed decision making, whereas; there will be Flavor / Aroma / Harmony Pals and Flavor / Aroma / Harmony Enemies. Some ingredients naturally go together and others don’t. Deep understanding and discernment of components are the basic duties of Calumet Elders (Non-Novices).

Narrative Standards

In Ojibwa (language) the word for a Band’s / Tribe’s customary Botanical Smoking Mixture [strangely narrated as Kinnikinnick by deceitful Collectors Of Foreign Intelligence] is Apaakozigan. While the root concept for this relates to mixing, as seen in words like Giniginige ("to mix something animate with something inanimate") or Kinikinige ["he mixes by hand"].

Reporting

Rather than relying solely on previously published works, the author suggests living with related plants and personally holding your very own “Can Cutting Test”; or Sensory Evaluation, examining the appearance, color, texture, aroma, taste; assessing every possible quality. This can be done alone or within a panel of people.

Colonialism

What is generally published concerning botanical elements is an absurd disturbance with both deadly and essential plants sharing the exact same common names. Hundreds of years later, someone might have the decency to add words like “False” and “True” to Common Plant Names such as the fantastically unrelated Yellow Pimpernels. These shortcomings for Botany are a side effect of laziness and Colonialism both of which are synonymous. Colonists operating in North America lazily and inappropriately assigned European Common Plant Names to Ojibwa Plants instead.

Key Ojibwa Terms & Meanings

Tobacco is the modern generic Common Name for all botanical elements used as an offering, incense, fumigant and smoking substance by The Ojibwa. The word Tobacco is borrowed from The Taínos (pron. Ty-ee-no) in Middle America.

Apaakozigan: (pron. a-pock-wa-zee-Gone) The specific Ojibwa term for the smoking blend, often used by fluent speakers, derived from the root meaning "what is mixed" or "the mixed".

Giniginige / Kinikinige: (pron. gi-ni-gi-ni-ge)

A verb form meaning "to mix something animate with something inanimate" or "he mixes by hand," from which "kinnikinnick" is strangely derived by foreigners.

Mitaakozigan: is the Ojibwa word for Unmixed / Unblended Tobacco

Asemaa: (pron. ah-seh-MAH) is the Ojibwa word for their Fundamental Ceremonial Tobacco commonly known as Red Willow / Red-Osier Dogwood.

Ingredient Information:

Aster

Asters are Frost Daisies; Sunflowers that bloom during the onset of the Fall Frost Season. Large and Small Leaved Asters are used by The Ojibwa as Tobacco, incense, fumigant, seasoning, vegetables and medicine. Fragrant Rabbit Tobacco Aster Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium (Sweet / Life Everlasting) is said to be favored among The Menominee and smells like Vanilla Maple Syrup. The Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) also use Aster is these ways.

Naskosiˈîcûs [Blue Wood Aster / Heart {Shaped Lower} Leaved Aster] Symphyotrichum Cordifolium and Red-Stem Swamp Aster Symphyotrichum puniceum Organs and Roots are respected by the author as an uppermost offering and Traditional Medicine.

Migiziwibag (pron. me-ghee-zee-we-bug ~or~ megîsiˈ bûg) is Eagle Leaf or Large-Leaf Aster Eurybia Macrophylla is mostly a foodstuff whereas only the flowers and shoots [suckers] are smoked.

Yarrow

Wabîgwon (pron. waˈ bîgwûn) Woolly Yarrow Aster Achillea millefolium subsp. Lanulosa Nutt. [White-Flower Woolly Stem/Leaf Aster], Flower-heads are considered an essential element / smoking / fumigation ingredient for High Ceremonies. This whole plant is a potent medicine and fumigant. Wooly’s aroma is a Chamomile-Like, warm, earthy, freshly sawn balsam fragrance, similar to Marjoram, spicy like Thyme with citrus, floral and very strong medicinal qualities. Chewing Wooly reveals a lingering anesthetic and anti-inflammatory effect due to sharing Eugenol with Cloves and Salicylic Acid with Aspirin and Willows. Yarrow’s main component is Matricin > Chamazulene a potent anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant. Although the author is strongly against enumerating anything; Woolly Yarrow is respected as an uppermost (traditional) medicine and offering by The Ojibwa.

Willow / Dogwood

Misqua bimej / Miskwaabiimagoons / Miskwaabiimag: Red Willow (Cornus stolonifera Michx. or Cornus sericea or Swida Sericea) and Spotted Willow (Cornus rugosa Lam.). The inner bark is used, after being toasted and pulverized. Misqua bimej / Miskwaabiimagoons / Miskwaabiimag

Drying Rack
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Meskwabiˈ mîc (Red Bush) Panicled Dogwood, Northern Swamp Dogwood, Gray Dogwood Cornus paniculata L’Her . The Waaswaaganing are credited for popularizing this smoking element as well as revealing its use as a Leafy Tobacco extender or filler. Leafy Tobaccos from as far away as Bolivia were a commodity for at least 12,300 years, considered precious or costly and to be leveraged into a more accessible base such as Dogwood. Traditional commodification of Leafy Tobacco does not compare to the Industrial Hyper-Commodification of Tobacco by The Colonial State Society. Historically, the traditional, personal, non-ceremonial use of Tobacco is reported not as profane and self-indulgences but as communal satiety treatment sessions to reduce appetites during food shortages.

Leafy Tobacco

Ase’ma Anibish: Mohawk Tobacco is a natural, wild variation of Nicotiana Rustica that has shifted and morphed from Sothern Regions to the Great Lakes through human intent and dependence, with North American samples dated to be at least 12,300 years old. Mohawk Tobacco contains super-high levels of Nicotine. Nicotine exists in Nature in its fully functional form as intended; as a plant defense insecticide, a powerful neurotoxin intended for plant predators insects/herbivories/omnivores to prevent herbivory. This is why Nicotine is a highly addictive dopamine stimulant that disrupts appetite-regulating hormones and the parts of the body that control, (tissue) elasticity, hunger, wakefulness, irritability, and addiction. No amount of Nicotine or Tobacco smoke is considered safe during pregnancy, and complete avoidance is recommended for a baby's health.

Bearberry

Makomin / Makoonsimin: Superior Region’s Bearberry’s Common Names are also Indian names: Kinnikinnick and Sha-Sha Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi is considered a Tobacco Extender. Bearberry is highly medicinal; however, it is said that Bearberry’s action is dependent on alkalinity and therefore buffering agents such as Sodium Bicarbonate are added and acidic foods and beverages are avoided during treatment with Bearberry.

Bearberry leaves look similar to Blueberry leaves but are thickened, leathery and waxy. Bearberry is related to blueberry and cranberry as all of these are Heathers or Ericaceae.

Bearberry is a very low sprawling shrub mat with pink flowers and red berries. Bearberry habitat is permeable, acidic sand and gravel.

Dry Bearberry has a grassy tea aroma at room temperature. Dry Bearberry is brittle and can be easily pulverized with wooden implements. Crushed Bearberry has a slightly soapy aroma at room temperature even though Bearberry is not credited at all with aldehydes (the soapy smell that is only [genetically] off-putting to people of European decent because of an olfactory receptor gene digression {Julia Child was famous for her deep hatred of herbs such as cilantro} ).

Sumac

Bakwana'tig (binding tree): Staghorn Sumac Rhus Typhina 
Smooth Sumac [“bakwaˈ nak” Jack Doud @Flambeau]
Berries used for stomach aches and Root Bark is used to stop a hemorrhage.

Velvety-Red Berry-Cones called Bobs or Drupes along with Senescent Leaves (red color pigment ripened) are cut, pulverized and smoked. Some report Sumac Trichomes (plant-hairs) as an [natural plant defense] irritant, therefore, Sumac parts may be blanched before drying and use. Dried Sumac parts have no discernable aroma at room temperature. It takes tremendous resultant force to cut, pulverize and release dried Sumac’s flavor and aroma. The released essence is cool and wintery when smelled at room temperature and tannic, pithy, and citrusy when chewed. Sumac smoke is extremely pleasant, sublime and similar to a leathery, Chestnut, Sweetgrass aroma. The sublime quality of Sumac smoke makes this another uppermost offering ingredient according to the author.

Mint

Aandegobagoons: Mentha Canadensis is genetically, and structurally distinguished from it’s false European equivalent Mentha Arvensis (Wild Corn Mint).

Native Wild Canada / American Mint has square stems, creeping roots, hairy toothed leaves and feature Menthol, Pulegone and Camphor aroma compounds. Pulegone is a powerful insecticide purported to be Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Antifungal, Antihypertensive, Anti-anxiety and provides Cognitive Support. Exposure (to concentrates) should be kept low due to toxic high dose concerns. Pure isolated Pulegone and Camphor is deadly to humans. Camphor is purported to treat coughing, pain and burns. Mint smoke is said to be relaxing, cooling and decongestant (sinus only).

Sweet Grass

Wingashk: (Otchipwe Language unspecified aromatic herbs; Baraga 1878) Common Name is Sweet Grass Hierochloe Odorata (pron. high-row-clo-ee / oh-doh-RAH-tah Holy Grass / Fragrant) shares the distinctive aromatic compound Coumarin with Alfalfa Hay, Sweet Clover, Chinese Cinnamon, Brazillian Teak and Anticoagulant Drugs. Light, wispy aromas and botanicals like SweetGrass can be powerful and potent in other ways. Coumarin’s functional form is to convert iron in poor soil conditions to a usable form and as a plant’s pest defense. In humans; Coumarin possibly reduces inflammation, blocks Vitamin K, kills and/or stunts cancer cells, protects neurons and improves lymphatic drainage. SweetGrass is generalized as “Gentle” among Essential Sacred Plant Relatives of The Ojibwa. The author encourages those further interested in SweetGrass to explore SweetGrass’ Coumarin placement among other Aromatic Lactones on charts, maps and posters for this.

Sage

Mashkode: (Large Prairie / Meadow / Marsh) Wingashk: [Aromatic / Tasty / Calming Herb, Baraga 1797] Ojibwa Sage shares chemical compounds with Cedar such as Thujone. Sage’s three major, notable components are Camphor (stimulates nerves, circulation and mucus regulation), Eucalyptol (anti-inflammatory, cell regulation, cognitive amplification) and Borneol (anti-infective, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory) Ojibwa Sage Leaf smoke is more elusive, wispy and difficult to describe than the organs that are extremely more potent than the leaves and produce a thick concentrated smoke that is more fragrant and complex than the leaves.

Superior Region Sage

Mashkodewashk: White Prairie Sage Artemisia Ludoviciana. This silver-gray perennial is the most common Ojibwa (Ceremonial) Sage in the Superior Region. White Prairie Sage must not be confused With White Sage whereas White Prairie Sage is a Sunflower and White Sage Salvia Apiana is a Mint that is impractical and out of range.

Blue Prairie Sage Salvia Azurea is a perennial with late blue flowers and a lighter aroma.

Bashkodejiibik: Prairie Sage (Brush/Bush) Artemisia Frigida A Late Bloom favored by the Ojibwa for over-spiritualized maladies and as a funerary element.

Saw-tooth Sage Artemisia Serrata or wormwood features long, slender, fine-toothed leaves and is a tall / overhead plant.

Cedar

Gijik: Northern White Cedar Thuja Occidentalis (pron. ok-ki-den-TAH-lis) [meaning "western"] An evergreen conifer with flat, scale-like leaves and aromatic wood. Rich in Vitamin C, antifungal, antiparasitic and immune system stimulants. Cedar shares chemical compounds with Sage such as Thujone. Cedar crackles when burned and produces a heavy evergreen smoke that suggests intransience and timelessness. Cedar "Spills" are used to transfer fire from a Sacred Fire source to ignite The Calumet's Bowl during Calumet Ceremonies. 

Mason Brock 

Super False Pimpernel

"Manweˈgons” or “Manweˈkos”: Superior Region’s Super False Yellow Pimpernel Taenidia integerrima “ is not related to False Pimpernel Lindernia Dubia nor True Yellow Pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum in any way whatsoever and there is no logical explanation for this common name misappropriation. Manweˈgons is a Parsley/Carrot/Parsnip Umbellifer instead. The Waaswaaganing are credited for reporting Manweˈgons organs as suitable for smoking.

Fungus, Moss, Cattail

Both the Fruiting Bodies and sprawling Mycelium of Shelf / Bracket Fungi are related to The Calumet’s use by The Ojibwa.

Tinder / Hoof Conk, Turkey Tail, Pheasant Back and other Fungi are considered essential elements for The Solemn Calumet use, whereas The Calumet’s Bowl must be lit from a Sacred Fire and The Sacred Fire must be lit from a Fungi Derived Tinder. Only a fire kindled in this manner can be deemed a Sacred Fire. Traditionally, “Sacred” kindling may be supplemented with Moss and or Typha (Cattails).

Mescalbean

Above all; Mescalbeans are extremely toxic and or deadly. Mescalbeans Dermatophyllum secundiflorum / Sophora secundiflora are included here because these beans, in addition to their deadly toxins also contain the alkaloid Cytisine which is the antidote to Commercial Tobacco Addiction. Cytisine was added to WHO's list of essential medicines for this reason. Only the purified Cytisine should be used as a prescription medication (brand-named Varenicline, Chantix, Champix, Tyrvaya). Side effects for this treatment are mostly due to the already fantastic damage caused by a Commercial Tobacco Addiction. Although The US is the Native Range for Mescalbeans; As of January 2026, Cytisine (Cytisinicline) is not yet commercially available in the United States. While it has been used in Europe for over 50 years and is approved in Canada and the UK, it is currently undergoing the regulatory approval process in the U.S. While tobacco companies historically lobby against public health measures that reduce cigarette sales, there are no specific reports of them actively targeting the cytisinicline approval process in the 2025–2026 cycle. If approved, cytisinicline would be the first new FDA-approved pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation in 20 years.

Stan Shebs

WARNING: Do not inhale nor aspirate combustion products and byproducts as this is extremely harmful. Never add essential oils to Tobacco Mixtures as this can be extremely harmful.

Reject These:

Indian Tobacco Bellflower: as "Puke Weed" Lobelia inflata This entire plant contains deadly ALKALOIDS (so Noppetty-Nopes).

Mullein: Verbascum thapsus was Introduced to Michigan by Europeans in the 1800’s as a fish poison and it is fantastically adventive to North America, (so Noppetty-Nopes). Mullein original range is Asia only.