K’ak’
Elderberry tree (Sambucus nigra)
- K’ak’ is the name of the elderberry tree, while its berries are called áantay.
- Áantay and the flowers can be used to make syrups, jellies, teas, and other foods, as well as a cough syrup used to treat cold and flu symptoms.
- The wood of k’ak’ can be used to make instruments like wadadá (clapperstick).
Blue Elderberry (photo by dcrjsr, CC BY 3.0)
Blue Elderberry (photo by Fores & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0)
Blue Elderberry (photo by Walter Siegmund, CC BY 2.5)
- K’ak’ provides habitat for the valley elderberry longhorn beetle, which is threatened, so k’ak’ is protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Additional vocabulary
Áantay
Elderberry berry (Sambucus nigra)
Wadadá
Clapperstick
Homodíbe mɨɨm? (Where is it?) You can find k’ak’ in the Tribal Admin parking lot, the Ed Center Garden, and other places around the Rancheria. Today, many Tribal Members are also able to gather k’ak’ and áantay at Verona Marina.
Esak’ahá daak’ábe mi c’aykɨ́ɨ? (Do you want to know more?) This webpage is part of a larger initiative to share signage highlighting plants found around the Shingle Springs Rancheria and their Nisenan names.
Webpage last updated: 2025-07-16