Kenegtaq
Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.
Plant
Low-bush cranberry, or lingonberry, is a small, mat-forming, evergreen shrub. It has thick, oval, shiny green leaves; pink, bell-shaped flowers; and edible, sour, round, red berries. The plant grows in Kodiak’s open woods, bogs, and tundra habitats.
Gathering: Picked in great quantities from late August to late September when the berries are dark red. In windy areas, low-bush cranberries are often cleaned by dropping them onto a cloth so that the wind carries away debris as they fall.
Food: Added to soups and stews for flavoring. Made into meat sauces, jams, jellies, puddings, desserts, and mashed potato akutaq. A source of emergency food for travelers. Once stored in containers of oil or in cold water. Now stored in freezers.
Medicine: People drink a tea made from lowbush cranberry leaves to treat colds or to promote urination. The berries are recommended for kidney problems, canker sores, and thrush.
Material: Used to make a red dye.
