Exploring Indigenous Eating

Check out the complete route on our Trip Map.

A century ago people began gardening in the Hoonah area. Corn, potatoes, and other hearty plants were put into the ground and left to grow over the summer. The Hoonah FEA Club (Future Educators of Alaska) headed up to the head of Port Frederick to explore an indigenous garden site and collect fertilizers for our garden.

Trees are growing in an old raised row. The garden was located near the beach on a slight downhill. This layout allowed for nice drainage. The garden plot was North-facing which kept the soil from getting too much sun and drying out.

Living quarters and smoke house.

We encountered lots of Culturally Modified Trees (CMT). Pitch was chipped away to use as fire starter for the smoke house.

Shells are rich in calcium, so we collected crushed shells to add to our garden soil.

Starfish are an excellent source of phosphorus, they can be cut up and buried with the plants when transplanted outside.

Seaweed and Kelp are high in potash. We will work seaweed into the soil and use it as mulch in the fall to protect perennials from winter weather.

We checked out some old fish traps. Rock walls were built to trap fish swimming upstream at high tide and when the tide went out fish would be easily plucked from the pools.

This seal blind is located next to the beach and was used for hiding behind to hunt seal.
Complete Trip Photo Album