Where it grows: Kiníí bushes can be found on the broad prairie, in untamed fields, and alongside roads.

How to identify: From May to August, flowers are in bloom. A small crimson fruit appears after the petals fall away. The berry, known as a rose hip, is packed with seeds. When picking rose hips, be aware of the tiny thorns on the branches.

Blackfoot: Kiníí

Before commerce beads were acquired, rose hips were used to construct necklaces.

Food Uses:

• Rose hips were eaten fresh, dried, or roasted after the seeds were removed.
• Rose hips would cling to the bushes over the winter and served as famine food.
• Rose hips were cooked in water, then mixed with flour to create a pudding-like dish.
• Rose hips were combined with fat and dried port to make an energy bar to utilize in the winter.
• Frozen rose hips, which resembled popsicles were a treat for kids. Rose hips are full of nutrients, notably vitamin C and beta-carotene.

Medicinal Uses:

• The roots were used to make a bitter tea to alleviate diarrhea, treat worms, and relieve painful stomachs. When combined with mint, rose hips made a delicious tea that eases diarrhea, an upset stomach, and sore throats.
• Boils, insect bites, and other skin issues can be treated with a rose hip mixture.
• Rose hips have a pleasant taste and helps relieve muscle pain.