adventure
The Whisper of the Land WRITTEN BY Darci Hansen
Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow. ~Henry David Thoreau The beauty of Snow Canyon is obvious and indescribable. I’ve hiked there countless times. This time it would be with a guide from the Red Mountain Resort. Ginny Sparks was a longtime friend and we shared an odd connection: She is a full-blooded Navajo woman who was raised on the Navajo Nation; I am a blonde haired Caucasian who was raised on the CRIT Reservation. She grew up in the culture; I observed it. She practiced ancient traditions; I respected them. As my guide, Ginny was assigned to lead me and nine other women from the area on a hike that would educate us on medicinal plants found in the canyon. For me, it would be about discovering the deeper connection I feel toward living in the southwest. woman
51
From Ginny’s Notebook:
Medicinal Plants - Used by the Navajos Narrow Leaf Yucca: - Roots are used for shampoo Mormon Tea: - Ephedra in the plant that contains alkaloids which in turn makes ephedrine and pseudo ephedrine. These components dilate nasal passages and increase heart rate. - Tannins in the plant help with asthma, bronchitis and sinusitis - Also assists with stomach and bowel disorders; Arthritis - Diuretic - Poultices used for burns, and sores - Anti-viral properties used to treat venereal disease Desert Almond: - Produces almonds that are edible - Can be toxic - Hydrogen Cyanide is found mostly in leaves and seeds which can be detected by the bitter taste of the almond. - In small quantities Hydrogen Cyanide stimulates the respiratory system and improves digestion. Too much causes respiratory failure and may even cause death. Juniper Tree: - This tree provided food, fuel, shelter and medicine for the Native Americans for thousands of years. - Berries are ground into flour for bread. The ash turns cornmeal blue. - Berries made into tea can help stomach problems and diarrhea - Used as a diuretic and reduces blood glucose levels - Tea given to woman in labor relaxes muscles for childbirth - Phenol in berries is a bacteria killer used for wounds and sores - Wood for fire - Logs are used for building hogans and sweat lodges. Wood is resistant to decay and has a wonderful woodsy smell. - Bark can be used for tinder to start a fire Wide Leaf Yucca: - Fibers are used for making belts, sandals, nets of fishing mats for sitting on and the making of baskets. - Fine fibers are used in paint brushes for painting pottery - Fruit is edible and can be cooked by placing in the ground and building a fire over it. It has a starchy taste like potatoes. Globe Mallow: - Roots of the plant are used as a tea to stop bleeding and has coagulant properties. The roots can be made into a tea for women in labor to contract uterus. It also treats edema, stomach aches, and coughs. Gamble Oak: - Acorns used for food and can be ground into flour. - Leaves have powerful astringent that are used to treat chronic diarrhea, hemorrhage and dysentery. - Bark can be made into tea has analgesic properties for postpartum pain and facilitates the expulsion of the placenta. Hedge Hog Cactus: - Flowers bloom in spring and open in the morning then close at night. - The fruit is edible and taste like strawberries.
52
Before we began the hike, Ginny shared a wealth of knowledge on the longevity of the Native American people. As most know, the impact of European contact with the Native Americans was devastating. The Native people’s population, which once reached tens of millions, had decreased to approximately 250,000 by 1900 – an incredible depopulation of approximately 95%. “Fortunately, the Native peoples did not pass from the stage of history as many predicted we would,” Ginny said. “We continued, almost always against great odds, but with an enduring and abiding persistence.” With that humbling thought, we proceeded to hike. The light of the rising sun slowly illuminated the unique orange color of Snow Canyon’s walls. The canyon was quiet and provided a serene setting. As we waded through small canyons and climbed to the top of trails, we learned of Ginny’s maternal grandmother, who was a medicine woman. Her knowledge of native plants was extensive. She taught Ginny as a young girl how to identify and use medicinal plants for spiritual and physical well-being. Each Native American tribe uses various herbs and plants as medicine to bring the mind, body and spirit back into balance when it is needed. This is known as ‘Hozho.’ Hozho is considered the essence of Navajo philosophy. Navajos use more species of wild plants in healing medicine than any other Native American tribe. As we hiked, Ginny would stop along the trail to teach of the many native plants in Snow Canyon that also grow on the Navajo Nation. With each plant there was a purpose for its existence. And with many of the plants, Ginny had a story. We stopped to enjoy the aroma of sage. Sage is considered to be one of the Navajo’s most sacred plants and is used for spiritual cleansing. Ginny explained, “Before a person can be healed or heal another, one must be cleansed of any bad feelings, negative thoughts or negative energy,” she says. She taught us that smudging is a sacred ceremony that consists of tying bundles of dried herbs together that are burned then put out to smolder. The smoke is then wafted around the person or place needing purification and cleansing. Smudging calls upon the spirits THE ARTS ISSUE 2012
From Ginny’s Notebook:
Medicinal Plants - Used by the Navajos Sumac Bush: (non-toxic) - Edible berries, highly acidic, very sticky, rich in Vitamin C - Soak berries and make lemonade or crush them and make pudding Snake Weed: - Roots are used to heal cuts and bites in humans and animals - Used as tea for stomach aches and snake bites - Used in sweat lodges Rabbit Bush: - Poultice made from plant is applied to boils and rheumatic joints - Finely mashed leaves are applied to toothaches Desert Willow: - Bark of this tree contains salicin, a chemical similar to ASA - Pain relief, anti-inflammatory and treats headaches, osteoarthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, and menstrual cramps Wild Mustard: - Use for culinary purposes and flavoring of food
of sacred plants to drive away negative energies and restore balance. Sage is believed to drive out all unhealthy influences. Ginny shared the many ways that she used sage as taught to her by her grandmother. As an antiseptic, its leaves are picked early in the morning, washed and ground into a paste then placed upon a wound. When used as a tea, sage is consumed to reduce fever, colds and for suppressing nausea. And sage is used in sweat lodges for the purification ceremony. As if that wasn’t enough, we were humored when she shared her secret of using sage as a natural deodorant. To quench our curiosity, she showed us how this was done. Ginny removed a few sage leaves and rolled them between her hands so that the oils and fragrance of the plant were released and then could be rubbed on the body. And indeed, the scent was delightful. As we moved along the trail, we stopped frequently to learn of other plants, each with a story that Ginny had to share. With every step I felt a greater respect for the earth. I marveled at the countless resources I had skipped over during previous hikes. Once high upon the ridge, we watched as Ginny taught us the proper way to approach a plant when partaking of its leaves or roots. Our group fell silent as we watched her demonstrate this gentle act. The process began by approaching the plant and asking permission to abstract what was needed. A blessing is then placed upon the plant before a small portion is taken followed by a verbal expression of gratitude for its gift. We were in awe. The immense level of appreciation that the Native Americans have for Mother Earth is something to be honored. I tried to imagine what life without its modern day comforts would have been like ... difficult and frightening, yet sacred and exciting. We returned to Red Mountain Resort for a divine lunch at the Canyon Breeze Restaurant. We talked about the deeper meaning we each felt towards the canyon, the Native Americans, the environment, and this place that our group of friends gets to call home.
Prickly Pear: - Fruits are edible and can be made into prickly pear jelly - The pads of the cactus are split and slightly roasted then used for wound care. Scoop out the meat of the cactus and place over wound and wrap tightly. Golden Aster: - Used for animal poisoning - Leaves, stems and flowers are used for dye. It gives a yellow/green hue for Navajo rugs. Wild Rhubarb: - Food source - leaves are put in soup and has a spinach like flavor - Roots look like carrots - used for dying wool for Navajo Rugs - Wonderful pungent odor Wing Salt Bush: - Seeds ground up and cooked as cereal and provides a high source of Niacin. - Contains vitamin B and vitamin B3 that lowers cholesterol - Crushed flowers with a little water can be used to apply to ant bites - Ashes from bush are used for leavening bread Wild Parsley: - Soup Flavoring Indian Rice: - Food source: gathered in bowl by tapping the plant and cooked like rice. Flavored like Quinoa and tastes very nutty. Grama Grass (Be’ezo): - Perennial grass that grows abundantly near sandy areas - Grass is picked in August or September after dried by the hot summer sun. Make a bundle about the size of a circle made by your middle finger and thumb. The bundle is tied snuggly with yarn. By tapping it lightly against your palm the ends become even and used to brush hair.
It’s often said that there is a draw to the desert. I call it a force - a force that encompasses a culture with sacred traditions. Their memory remains present in a whisper ... only to speak to those who quietly listen. woman
53
The Adventures of Sunflower Girl Near the place where the Four Corners of the southwest are welded together lies the Navajo Nation. Within its depths is the community of Chiilchin bii’tó, whose Navajo translation means ‘sumac spring.’ Chilchinbeto encompasses some 243,000 acres and is beautifully dominated by looming mesas, igneous plugs, and sandstone formations. The landscape is painted by numerous washes and canyons and sparsely covered with scattered bunches of grasses, rabbitbrush, yucca, greasewood, scrub oak, juniper, and pinon pines. It is here, in this isolated nature, that the foundation was laid for the modernday evolution of a series of children’s books entitled, The Adventures of Sunflower Girl.
“My mother and grandmother gave me a very special Navajo name. I was born early one fall morning under the open sky. The morning star was still twinkling above and the sunflowers were in full bloom covering the desert. That is why I was named Nidiyilii At‘eed or Sunflower Girl.”
Life on the reservation was one rich in the teachings of Navajo culture. Its ancient history has been passed on through generations in order to hold fast to the sacred traditions, beliefs and ceremonies present in Navajo life. Ginny is now in her mid-50s, and her children kept encouraging her to write down her memories so her real life stories could be shared. “If I don’t pass on some of these things that my grandmother taught me, they would die with me,” she said.
Among her many titles, including mother, registered nurse, and hiking guide, Ginny Sparks is also an author. She was born and raised on the ‘rez’ in the 1950s and 60s. Progress had not yet found Chilchinbeto, nor had indoor plumbing or electricity. What shaped Ginny as a humanitarian was this authentic and adventurous upbringing on the Navajo Nation. Ginny was taught and nurtured by her adoring grandmother, Ason Tsosie, to whom she refers to in the book as ‘Shi Masani,’ meaning grandmother. Shi Masani was a wise, spunky, and tiny Navajo woman who had an uncanny ability to communicate with animals. Remarkably, she lived to be well over 100 years old, passing away while Ginny was in high school.
54
The Adventures of Sunflower Girl - Grandmother and the Bull, is her first book in the series. Ginny is also the illustrator, whose delightful drawings connect with her simplistic writing style. Her script was initially rejected. “Most publishers use their own illustrators. I wanted to do the drawings for my work but they weren’t interested in that,” she says. “It is such a personal story for me. Most of those illustrators have never set foot on the Navajo Nation ... I didn’t want them creating a world they weren’t familiar with or knew nothing about.” Which was another reason why Ginny decided to write the book. “Sharing knowledge is the beginning to greater understanding of human beings.” Determination led her to Dog Ear Publishing, an Indianapolis-based company that offers a variety of services for authors who want to selfpublish. For someone who didn’t speak English until she was seven years old, Ginny had found her voice – and her publisher. With a lifetime of accomplishment and a childhood filled with experiences, Ginny and The Adventures of Sunflower Girl have many stories yet to tell. Ginny’s authentic ability to preserve the history of her people is a gift, wrapped in opportunity for a deeper appreciation of the Navajo culture. THE ARTS ISSUE 2012
Does your insurance agent lead you down the right path?
Sherry McGhee is on a journey…one that began almost 25 years ago when she decided on a career to care for others. From taking that first step of becoming a State Farm licensed agent, to investing years in achieving prestigious insurance designations, Sherry has never wandered from her commitment to her clients.
“My clients concerns and needs are what drive me every day to do the best that I can for THEM.” By staying on track and empowering herself with current education on the ever changing insurance business, Sherry McGhee is able to protect her customers and their financial assets – leading them down the right path to financial security.
“When Sunflower Girl was a small child she and her grandmother went to visit some relatives who lived a few miles away. While they were walking they were charged by an angry bull and had to climb a tree to escape. It looked like they would be in the tree for a long, long time until her grandmother had a serious talk with the bull.”
Sherry McGhee Insurance Agency Inc. Sherry S. McGhee, Agent, CLU ChFC CASL LUTCF 67 N. 300 E. • St. George, UT 84770-2916
w w w.S h e r r y M c G h e e.n e t Call Sherry today to get help with your financial goals.
435-628-2673 woman