Labrador tea
Plants of Chevak
There are many plants growing around the Qissunaq River, in the spring there are greens to eat, but I was there in mid-summer so these are a few of the plants that I saw. The land is tundra so most of the plants are very low to the ground and form mat-like clumps, taller plants, such as blade grass and stinkweed, are found in marshy areas.
Labrador tea
Ayuq – Labrador tea (Ledum palustre)
The Cup’ik people drink ayuq tea as their main beverage. It is used medicinally for stomach troubles, tuberculosis and as a general health tonic. It is safe to drink, but if boiled instead of steeped it releases more ledol (a toxic substance) and may be too strong and cause heart palpitations, sleepiness or cramps. A friend said his heart was beating irregularly after drinking ayuq that had been boiled and was very strong. It is also used as a smudge for protection, to drive away bad spirits, and a spiritual cleanser before or after talking circles, and in sick rooms.
Stinkweed
Caiggluk - Stinkweed (Artemisia tilesii)
Stinkweed is used for sore throats, cough, colds, flu, and stomach. It is made into a decoction for colds and flu, but should be taken only a teaspoon at a time. I was given the leaf to chew for sore throat, and helped relive my symptoms a great deal. It is also used in steam baths. More recently, skin salves made with artemisa and angelica, are being used in Chevak.
Blade grass
The blade grass is hand picked one by one, for quality, from Hooper Bay area (considered the best) for basket sewing.
Salmonberry
Aqevyik or Salmonberries - better known as Cloudberries (Rubus chamaemorus)
The berries are harvested in the late summer or early fall in great quantities. This year the salmonberries were very early and ripened in mid-summer. They are eaten plain or in akutaq (Eskimo ice cream), nowadays they are frozen and eaten with sugar for desert.
Kavlakuareq or Blackberries - Crowberries (Empertrum nigrum)
Crowberries are usually eaten off the plant or picked and mixed with blueberries.
Tundra: salmonberries, Labrador tea, crowberies