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- Title
“Berry Patch” As a Kind of Place—the Ethnoecology of Black Huckleberry in Northwestern Canada.
- Authors
Trusler, Scott; Main Johnson, Leslie
- Abstract
The Gitksan and Wet’suwet’en of Northwestern British Columbia formerly used landscape burning to manage patches of black huckleberry ( Vaccinium membranaceum), the most important plant resource of their seasonal round. In view of its significance one might postulate that managed sites would conform to a biophysical or ecological type to maximize return for effort. However, a survey of a number of traditionally managed sites indicated that managed sites are characterized by wide variation in biophysical attributes including elevation, aspect and moisture regime, while proximity to fishing sites, village sites, or sites for harvest of alpine resources proved to be a common factor in known historic berry patch sites. We conclude that characterization of the ideal site type for aboriginal V. membranaceum management must include the economy and social institutions of the local First Nations and requires an enhanced appreciation for the sophistication of the strategies and techniques employed in their management and utilization of the species.
- Subjects
BRITISH Columbia; CANADA; HUCKLEBERRY industry; LANDSCAPES; PLANT resource allocation; ALTITUDES; PHYSICAL biochemistry; SOCIAL institutions; FISHING
- Publication
Human Ecology: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 2008, Vol 36, Issue 4, p553
- ISSN
0300-7839
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10745-008-9176-3