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IKAAHUK/SACHS HARBOUR
About 35 Sachs Harbour residents spent a day last month collecting and learning about traditional plants, an event to promote the food resources found on the land. The day was such a success, the organizer hopes it will be an annual experience if funding continues.

Manny Kudlak, chair of the Sachs Harbour Community Corporation, said originally, the day was to be spent gathering berries in the area. However, due to a shortage of berries on Banks Island, plans changed to include other traditional plants, such as wild rhubarb and Arctic sorrel. Kudlak said the plant was traditionally used to flavour seal oil.

"It gives it a tart taste, so it's not so rich" he said. "Usually they pick it and put it in bags and it's added straight to the oil. Just the leaves, not the stem part."

The group travelled together to Angus Lake in early August, where participants gathered Arctic heather, which was used to smoke and flavour meat, Kudlak said.

"It's got a very unique taste," he said. "If you've ever tasted something that's been smoked by it, you'll remember that taste."

Kudlak said the event was the result of a partnership between the corporation and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC).

Jullian MacLean, regional dietician with the IRC, participated in the trip. He said learning about traditional plants and their uses provides residents with nutritious food they don't have to buy at a store.

"The first thing that comes to my mind is food availability," he said. "Any Northerner will tell you quality produce at an affordable price can be a challenge. Gathering traditional plants provides Northerners with fresh, local nutritious food at low to no cost."

MacLean said access to nutritious food is key to preventing Type 2 diabetes.

He said plants such as Arctic sorrel could be used in a variety of ways, such as flavouring hot or cold drinks or even used as an alternative to sweetener.

"If you consider these uses, that can help replace high-calorie, low-nutrient sweeteners or other processed foods that people may consume to satisfy a sweet craving," he said. "I think there are definitely some potential health benefits there because it could replace less healthy choices."

In addition to learning about plants, Kudlak said the group held a barbecue picnic and spent the day on the land together. The group consisted of people of different ages, including elders and children.

The weather was also in their favour, MacLean added.

"It was a great day, sunny, blue sky and calm waters,"

he said. "I think people enjoyed being on the land."

Boats were commissioned to bring residents to Angus Lake from Sachs Harbour and other people travelled to the spot on their own using all-terrain vehicles, MacLean said.

Kudlak said though the event was held on a weekday, it didn't seem to affect participation rates.

"I'm quite proud we managed to throw that together with such a wonderful turnout. It was like people were waiting for this to happen."

Kudlak said he hopes to continue the program next year and would like to include wild mushroom harvesting. He said once people began depending on grocery stores for food, survival skills and traditional knowledge about edible plants and mushrooms began to disappear.

"A lot of people are scared of the mushrooms," he said.

Funding for this year's program was provided through Health Canada's Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative, MacLean said. The funding paid for transportation and supplies for the trip.

He said it's possible the trip could be funded again next year.

Kudlak said he knows people would want to repeat the experience.

"We had quite a few people out there," he said. "I guess that just shows you the community wants to have more programs like this in the summertime."

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