ayiman:

This is muskekopak (Cree) or labrador tea.  This is a pretty common drink to many indigenous people in the North. I learned how to pick and prepare this stuff from my grandparents.

It grows in wetlands all over the North, and the leaves are used to make a drink high in vitamin C.  It’s also a very strong diuretic, and it helps with relaxation.

It can be made with fresh leaves or dried (I prefer to dry them) and to make it, one heaping teaspoon is good for one person.

Be careful though, as there are similar looking plants that are poisonous that can be found in the same area.  Muskekopak has small white flowers, where the others will have pink flowers.  Muskekopak leaves also have a fuzzy underside, where the other poisonous varieties will not.

muskeg tea! There is definitely a wealth of that stuff around here. Our land is primarily swamp. When I was young, I took Cree classes and one day elders took us into the bush and taught us how to gather, prepare, build a fire and make tea with this!  I miss Cree class.