Foods From the Wild
Growing up on the land I gained invaluable knowledge of what to harvest from it. The land holds everything a person needs to survive and thrive. The following is just a very short list of what my family and I pick and harvest. We never pick an area clean; the creatures of the land and air need to eat too. We also use protocol and are respectful of the land. We leave no trace.
Huckleberries
ᐃᐣᓂᒼᒣᐣᓇ
inimina
One of my favourite berries to harvest is the huckleberry. These berries are packed with flavour and because of their size they are easy to pick. Huckleberries have been one of the main staples in my family for generations. Back in the day they would pack up a tent and by horseback head to a huckleberry patch and harvest these tasty berries, they would then dry/dehydrate them using the sun and store away.
Not only are they super tasty but huckleberries are a rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants, helping to strengthen the immune system. They are also high in iron.
My family and I continue to harvest huckleberries from land every year. They are not found in stores this is because huckleberries are extremely hard to grow commercially. Any berries or products from the berries you see are likely made from berries harvested from the forest.
I use my huckleberries for a variety of things: jams, pies, scones, cakes, cobbler, breads, sauces, etc. the list is endless.
Bog Cranberry
ᐏᓴᑫᒣᐣᓇ
wisakimina
Bog cranberries are a tart but tasty berry. These berries are picked later on in the season, usually the first frost sweetens them a bit. This berry is another berry that has been picked by people in my family for generations. Not only is this berry a great food source but it has medicinal properties too.
These berries are high in fibre, help promote digestion, decrease high blood pressure, prevent urinary tract infections and helping control blood sugar.
I usually harvest these berries, clean and then freeze them and use as needed. There are many ways to enjoy these berries. I’ve turned them into a sauce and topped vanilla ice cream with them. So tasty. I’ve also used them in scones, but by far my favourite way to eat them is how my mom used to prepare them. Boil them sweeten them ( I use raw unpasteurized honey) and then dip my oven baked Bannock in the cranberry soup.
