RESPONSIBLE AND RESPECTFUL FORAGING FOR KAYAANÍ
The word kayaaní is the Tlingít name for plants , and Sitka Tribe of Alaska ’ s Kayaaní Commission was formed more than 20 years ago to preserve and protect traditional ways of ancestral knowledge and plant gathering . They encourage everyone to partake in harvesting the land ’ s berries and ask all foragers to respect the resource and be courteous to the land and each other .
Only harvest as much as you need , be safe and sure about your identification of edible plants , and take care of the plants themselves – leaving enough fruit for the animals and existing plant to recover .
Some standard words of caution when foraging should also be made : Never consume white berries or red berries with a black dot at the end , as these are poisonous , and never consume anything you haven ’ t researched yourself .
Honoring and respectfully harvesting the land is too at the heart of Michaela Goade ’ s picture book Berry Song . Goade , a Sitka-based , awardwinning Indigenous illustrator and author , describes the berries as songs to the land and encourages her readers to strengthen their own connection to the earth in her book .
The knowledge that has been passed down through generations of Tlingít and Indigenous people has also informed fungi consumption , and locals and visiting mushroom enthusiasts are grateful for what the temperate rainforest provides .
Foraging and gathering berries and fungi is a great way to explore the world around you . And while the harvest is satisfying , foragers should take caution , making sure to avoid fruits and mushrooms that are unsafe or poisonous . Consult with local U . S . Forest Service rangers and access online resources to learn about sustainable and safe ways to forage for food in Sitka . You can also access the free online Southeast Alaska Traditional Foods Guide to reference while you ’ re foraging .
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Click here for an infographic about Alaska wild berries .
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