Among our people, juniper is a prominent tree found everywhere. Although some mistakenly call it cedar, it is significantly different from what non-natives understand as cedar. Juniper, or “guts,” has many uses, including cleansing the body and providing food. Juniper berries can be boiled to remove the shell, exposing the seeds inside. These berries are also used to make beads and other ornaments. Often insects will eat the seeds if left on the ground.
When the pods are boiled, they can be used for washing clothes or personal hygiene, becoming an ingredient in water used for these purposes. Alternatively, after peeling, the dried pods can be ground and mixed with yeka berries, often combined with pumpkin to make a dish. Many people claim that juniper is high in vitamin C, although I cannot verify this. Behind me is a female juniper, which has much more berries than the male.
It is recommended to dilute the juniper juice because it tastes bitter. Some people add honey to sweeten it. Personally, I prefer to drink it straight. Additionally, juniper is used to make green cornmeal for cooking. To make green bread, break off juniper branches, burn them, collect the ashes and mix them into white or yellow cornmeal. This mixture darkens and colors the food. The resulting paste should be watery, like oatmeal or ground cornmeal.
Another method of preparation is to thicken the mixture and cook it like a large biscuit on a grill, making sure it does not burn. The bread can also be cooked directly over hot coals. While some of the traditional foods may not be as popular today, they are still cherished memories for many people. People associate this bread with its preserving qualities, as it can last for days without spoiling. There are many different traditional uses for juniper, from firewood to cradle boards.
Different types of juniper and cedar offer different benefits. Traditionally, juniper berries were used by our people as medicine to fight diseases. To this day, we wear juniper berry necklaces to remember those practices. This female juniper tree produces a lot of berries that are naturally blue and ready to harvest. You can easily collect them and boil them to remove the shell, making them easier to peel when cooked.
Inside are seeds that are used for jewelry and decorative designs. Male junipers do not produce as many berries. Deer frequent this area, sometimes nibbling on the lower branches in the colder months. Typically, junipers grow low to the ground, spreading out in a circular pattern. In my grandmother's day, we would prune the lower branches of these trees to provide shade for sheep and other animals. Generally, you'll see male junipers here, called "guts."