Celebrating ancestors through plants
Lucretia Van Dyck
From the food we prepare to nourish our souls to the medicines we create in our kitchens, our ancestors have played a role in informing these everyday practices in our lives. Lucretia takes us on a journey through herbal culture across the African American diaspora. She shares recipes from her homeland and introduces important plants utilized in African American traditions to help us honor our ancestors through cooking and spiritual practices.
About Lucretia
Lucretia Van Dyke's journey began as a young girl mixing herbs, clay and mud on her grandparents' farm. She is the author of African American Herbal Healing and has been in the herbal industry for over 20 years. A holistic educator, speaker, herbalist, ritual specialist, spiritual light coach, intuitive and Reiki practitioner, fortune teller, storyteller, artist and world traveler, she has over 3,000 hours of training. She has learned from indigenous healers and some of the greatest minds of our time. Lucretia incorporates her vivacious spirit and message of self-love into her work to inspire others to embrace their unique beauty and purpose. Her work with herbs and sacred practices honors feminine wholeness through grief work, sexual trauma, ancestral connection, womb healing, self-empowerment, food alchemy and holistic skincare.
Sunflowers: Mexico's Healing Light
In this lecture, you will learn about the healing power of the sunflower in traditional Mexican medicine. Learn how every part of the sunflower, from the seed to the flower, is utilized in folk medicine and culinary practices. Explore traditional recipes made from sunflower sprouts, stems, seeds, and flower heads. Understand how traditional healers use the medicinal properties of the sunflower's rich green leaves and sunlight against common ailments.
About Mimi
Mimi is a National Geographic Herbal acclaimed author and an avid advocate of traditional and professional herbal medicine. With a wealth of knowledge, unwavering dedication, and a true love for herbal medicine, she has dedicated her life to promoting herbal medicine. Mimi holds a Masters in Herbal Medicine and is a clinical herbalist and registered herbalist with the American Herbal Medicine Association. In 2023, Mimi received the Botanical Excellence Award from the American Botanical Council in recognition of her role as a community builder. Her herbal expertise is deeply rooted in the traditions of her Colombian and Mexican grandmothers, who influenced the wisdom of Latin American folk herbal medicine and curanderismo. With her husband, Terry, Mimi co-manages the Ponderland Native Plant Sanctuary and encourages others to create similar plant sanctuaries in their own communities. Mimi enjoys practicing kitchen herbal medicine and inspiring others to explore the healing power of plants.
United Plant Savers Annual Report:
Building herbalism ties around the world
Susan Leopold
United Plant Savers (UpS) has released an annual journal that conveys the spirit of plants and the people who save them. Susan explains how the publication embodies the interconnectedness of plant lovers around the world and shares some of the stories featured in the publication. Highlights include Shinnecock Kelp Farmers, Forest Farming for the Future, and an immersive trip to the heart of Jamaica.
About Susan
Susan Leopold is an ethnobotanist known for her work in the fields of plant conservation, sustainable agriculture, and ethnobotany. She is the Executive Director of United Plant Savers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting native medicinal plants and their habitats in the United States and Canada. Leopold advocates for ethical wild plant collection practices, community-based conservation efforts, and the preservation of traditional plant knowledge.
The Importance of Great Lakes Plants to Anishinabek Culture
In the rich tapestry of Anishinabek culture, the plants of the Great Lakes region are more than just flora; they are essential to the mind, spirit and body of the community. Steeped in tradition and history, each plant plays a key role in rituals, ceremonies and daily practices. From the calming properties of sweetgrass used in sacred fumigation ceremonies to the medicinal properties of cedar used in healing teas, these plants are revered for their multifaceted importance. First-hand testimonies from Anishinabek elders speak to the meticulous care with which these plants are harvested, ensuring sustainability and respect for nature. Scientific research further substantiates the nutritional and healing properties these plants possess, confirming what the Anishinabek have known for generations. In a world increasingly disconnected from nature, Anishinabek wisdom is a profound reminder of the deep connection to the natural world we all share and the importance of incorporating these ancient practices into modern life. This class will educate many about our traditional ways of thinking and the unique ways we use plants and bark.
About Nathan
Nathan Wright, also known by his spiritual name Spirit Man from the Sun or Gyizs Su Win En E, is an Indigenous herbalist and descendant of two parent herbalists. His ancestral knowledge of plant medicines has been passed down through generations and he continues this tradition by ethically foraging wild plants and preparing medicines the traditional way.
As the owner of Herbal Lodge, a Native American and veteran owned business focused on creating natural, organic painkillers and medicinal tea products using wild herbs and mushrooms, Nathan is committed to reviving lost Anishinabek medicines and traditions while also incorporating modern technology for the benefit of his community.
Nathan is not only an Indigenous herbalist, but also a certified mushroom expert. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience in both fields. His teachings about Indigenous treaty rights and the need to protect lands and waters for harvesting medicinal herbs are featured in the film “Troubled Water,” available on the popular streaming network.
Currently residing in Petoskey, Michigan, Nathan shares his wisdom with others through a variety of online videos on Anishinabek culture, healthy lifestyles, cold water experiences, herbal teachings, etc. He has also taught botanical classes at libraries, universities, and other institutions throughout Michigan.
Can't you come?
Registered users will receive a recording of the event via email, and excerpts will also be shared on Mountain Rose Herbs' Herbal Radio, a community resource that is a curated collection of lectures from some of the most acclaimed herbalists of our generation. Our YouTube channel and blog also offer a wealth of herbal education and inspiration.
