Northern red currant
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Northern red currant (Ribes triste) produces bright red berries without the hairs that some currants have. The plant is also characterized by small, purplish flowers and heart-shaped leaves. It is a low, spreading shrub that grows primarily in forests and occurs in all the Dena'ina areas. The Dena'ina names nunazk'et'i, which means "that which hangs down" and jeghdenghult'ila "ear it's tied onto" refer to the berries. It is said that the latter name relates to the idea that the hanging fruit resembles earrings. Northern red currant belongs to the Saxifrage family, Saxifragaceae.
Among the currants that grown in their country, the Dena'ina favor the northern red currant and the trailing black currant for food. According to Osgood, red currants are also used for medicine. They were "skinned", placed in boiling water, and then wrapped and used as a poultice for sore eyes. for the Inland people, the steam and bark of this plant is made into medicine for colds, flu, and tuberculosis by boiling the plant and taking the decoction internally. Some people prefer to use either the stem or bark while others use both parts. The Dena'ina use the cooled tea as a wash for sore eyes, too. The Inland people also make a wash for the eyes of puppies from the leaves of the northern red current.