miryan

California Sagebrush

Artemisia californica

kaanak hiswin manni hišmen ‘ewwehe sipte

I am born where the sun shines bright

kaanak hinni ne warép

I am of this land

‘ek-maarah, kuččuš, ṭakrašte, ‘at huse horše, wattin hoppo hišmenmu ‘at taaraxtak

My leaves, small, thin, and scented, reach upwards towards the sun and sky

mak-mellekma ya-hooyo kaana hemme-t ‘ookwen ‘uyyakiš, ‘at neppeya mellekma waakamakš-k hityu kaana ‘ayye

Our grandmothers they gather me for old time medicine, and those grandmothers love me too

‘umunhumikma, šiililkanikma ‘at pinnanikma roote ‘imñom kaanamu hemmen ṭuuxi ‘ayye

Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees are near me every day also

kaanak horše

I am good

kaanak raakat miryan

My name is Artemisia

“My Nana, my Great-grandmother Mary, an Ohlone cultural leader who was born in 1910 in Sunol as part of the Verona Band of Alameda County, would gather miryan—Artemisia.

Beloved Artemisia, sometimes called sagebrush, that grows in the warm regions on Ohlone land, reminds me of my strong ancestors who allow us East Bay Ohlones to be here in the world today.

Let us celebrate Ohlone people, Ohlone land, and Ohlone plants, like Artemisia, every day and remember the heroes, like my great-grandma, who allow us to carry on.”

— Vincent Medina, Great-grandson of Mary Archuleta, and leader of the ‘ottoy Initiative based at the Lawrence Hall of Science