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Alaska is home to a great variety of wild berries, including bearberries, blueberries, cloudberries (also known as salmonberries), lowbush cranberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea, also known as lingonberries), highbush cranberries (Viburnum edule), crowberries (Empetrum nigrum, also known as blackberries), currents (Ribes spp.), kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), nagoonberries, raspberries (Rubus idaeus), soapberries (Shepherdia canadensis), and strawberries (Fragaria virginiana and F. chiloensis). Berries are high in vitamins and minerals and have always been a key food source for Alaska Native people. Berry picking continues to be an important subsistence and cultural activity. Berries and their leaves also have a variety of medicinal uses.
Listen to Jack Reakoff of Wiseman, Alaska talk about using kinnikinnick berries. Or read the transcript (ORAL HISTORY 95-50-05, PART 4, Side A).
Listen to Jack Reakoff of Wiseman, Alaska talk about using lowbush cranberries (lingonberries.) Or read the transcript (ORAL HISTORY 95-50-05, PART 4, Side B).
Listen to Mary Hobson, Dena'ina Athabascan from Nondalton, Alaska, talk about berries. Or read the transcript (ORAL HISTORY 98-27-22, Side B).