Summer » Berries galore! Blueberries , salmonberries , cloudberries , beach strawberries , currants , lingonberries , and more are picked throughout Alaska. Alaska Natives turn them into desserts, jams, jellies, and syrups. They are perfectly paired with fry bread. Salmon fishing season runs through the summer. Salmon is a staple for Alaska Natives. A favorite summer pastime for many is the practice of drying and smoking salmon. Other fish harvested are halibut , cod , Arctic char , and Dolly Varden , which are caught and processed for winter. » » Fall » Moose , deer , caribou , bears , mountain goats , Dall sheep , and beavers are in season for hunting. They are made into stews, burgers, sausages, jerkies, and reindeer dogs (Alaska’s version of a hot dog). Reindeer fat is often utilized to make Akutaq , an Alaska Native ice cream. Seaweed and kelp farmers plant seeds for harvest in the spring for items like kelp chili crisp, pickles, condiments, and sushi come fall. Berries are still in season, including cranberries . Try them in a juice, vinaigrette, or cranberry ketchup. Winter » Interior fishermen head out on ice fishing trips for coho salmon , Arctic char , rainbow trout , and Arctic grayling . Fur-bearing animals like foxes , rabbits , and wolverines are trapped. Alaska’s state bird, the ptarmigan (or grouse) , is commonly hunted throughout the winter to be grilled, fried, baked, or slow-cooked. Winter roots, such as cattails and dandelions , greens like nettles and watercress , a variety of mushrooms , and medicinal plants are all collected in winter. BETHANY SONSINI GOODRICH (BERRIES, SEAWEED), ‘WÁATS’ASDIYEI JOE YATES HAIDA (SALMON) » King crab season begins in the Southwest islands and in Northwest Alaska. » » » » » *Harvesting seasons vary by region. 12 ALASKA NATIVE CULTURE TRAVELALASKA.COM
Alaska Native Culture 2024: Page 12
