The Huckleberry Education Project Page

The Huckleberry Story: A Bridge Between Culture and Science

Bodie K. Shaw
Bureau of Indian Affairs/Forestry
Washington, D.C.

This project is a video-based natural resource education program designed to create Vaccinium membranaceum into an exciting and relevant learning experience for Native American students in the context of cultural awareness. Culturally important activities and resources have dwindled dramatically in Native American communities over the past century. This program focuses on the cultural significance and management of the huckleberry, arguably the most important cultural plant to the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indians.

The targeted audience consists of third and fourth grade students at Warm Springs Elementary School in Warm Springs, Oregon. Secondary target audiences include the general population of the Warm Springs community and visitors to the Museum at Warm Springs. Program goals are twofold: 1) assist students in understanding the cultural significance of the plant, and 2) help students understand the need for proper management of this resource.

The educational package includes a videotape, Instructor,s Guide and Student,s Guide. The video is a 20-minute production with a mid-program break for classroom discussion. The first half is devoted to tribal elders sharing stories from past experiences with huckleberries, focusing primarily on cultural and traditional aspects. The second half is directed toward management methods that could be implemented to ensure sustainabiltiy of huckleberries on the reservation. Instructor and Student Guides highlight the program,s main goals and objectives and offer suggestions for related activities. The Guides ensure that information presented in the video can be retrieved and accessed easily by both Instructors and Students.

Project Partners include the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indians and Oregon State University. The video was produced and edited by Bodie Shaw, Extension Agent in Warm Springs, Oregon. Technical advice and assistance was provided by Dr. Ed Jensen, Jeff Hino, and Mark Reed, of the Forestry Media Center, at Oregon State University.

Huckleberry Education Video

To order the Huckleberry Education Video, contact Bodie Shaw OSU Extension Agent, Warm Springs, or call 541.553.3238

Uses and Values:

Fruits of huckleberries are delicious fresh and are favored for use in huckleberry pies. Berries may be cooked into sauces or syrups and added to candies, muffins, breads, and pancakes. Fruit makes excellent jams and jellies. In Montana, the huckleberry industry is currently valued at several million dollars annually and is rapidly expanding to include international markets. On some sites in the Pacific Northwest, the value of the V. membranaceum fruit crop may exceed that of associated timber. In 1969, annual value reached up to $300 per acre ($741/ha) on marginally productive timber sites. During the late 1970's, high fruit-yielding plots produced berries valued at more than $757 per acre ($1,870/ha) annually.

Recreation:

Big huckleberry is the most commonly harvested huckleberry (Vaccinium spp.) of the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies. In parts of Washington and Oregon, shrubs are managed primarily for recreational and economic value. On one Ranger District in the Northwest, more than 163,000 visitor days were recorded for one berry field during the 1969 season. Many values associated with berry-picking activities are not easily quantifiable. These activities provide an impetus for many urban dwellers to enjoy the out-of-doors. Traditional values: The fruit of blue huckleberries were traditionally gathered by many Native Americans. V. membranaceum was an important staple food resource for many Northwestern tribes including the Warm Springs, Wasco, Bella Coola, Flathead, Klamath, Hoh, Klickitat, Nez Perce, Yakima, and others. Although the Warm Springs and Wascos recognized many species of huckleberries and blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), the big huckleberry was singled out for special recognition in an annual Thanksgiving ceremony held in August. The relative abundance and distribution of this species exerted a substantial influence on regional seasonal migrations, trade, and culture. The effective exploitation of these berries required population shifts and many Native Peoples moved from the Columbia River area to Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, and Mount St. Helens annually, as the berries ripened. Berries were eaten fresh or dried near campfires and burning rotten logs. Dried berries provided an important source of vitamin C during the winter months and were valuable commodities for trade. Many Cascade tribes traded dried huckleberries to peoples who inhabited lower elevations. Some authorities believe that Native Americans deliberately burned berry patches to increase fruit production. However, others maintain that the payback period was too long for intentional burning. Unattended campfires near berry fields during dry late summer or fall weather could have accounted for many fires. Horticultural value: Numerous cultivars of huckleberries and blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) have been developed. Many have value as ornamentals or fruit-producers in backyard gardens. The big huckleberry, because of qualities such as drought-tolerance and high fruit yield, has potential for use in developing hybrid commercial cultivars suited to drier upland sites. It has also been used in landscaping as a ground cover.

Wildlife:

Huckleberries provide valuable food and cover for a variety of wildlife species. Areas dominated by a huckleberry understory often serve as important summer range for deer and elk. Elk may feed on huckleberry browse during much of the summer, but use is often greatest early in the season. In some areas, elk also feed on twigs during the winter months. Roosevelt elk on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington eat twigs from spring through fall, although use tends to be greatest in early spring. Huckleberry was one of the most heavily browsed shrubs on summer ranges; utilization reached 50 to 90 percent. Huckleberry is an extremely valuable grizzly bear food. Fruit produced by most huckleberries (Vaccinium spp.) are important, high-energy food sources for black bears and grizzly bears from late July through September. Bears typically alter their geographic and elevational distribution annually to exploit huckleberry crops most effectively. Huckleberry crop failures increase the likelihood of bear-human encounters as hungry bears come into contact with recreationists or wildland residents. Depredations such as damage to crops and beehives and livestock losses typically increase during poor huckleberry years.

Nutritional Value:

Huckleberry (Vaccinium spp.) foliage is relatively high in carotene and energy content. However, specific nutritional value varies with plant part, phenology, treatment, and site characteristics. Total nutrient content of blue huckleberry browse is generally greatest in new stems. New leaves and stems typically exhibit relatively high levels of manganese, whereas rhizomes have significant amounts of iron, phosphorus, and aluminum. Old stems and rhizomes contain large amounts of lignin. Fruit: Vaccinium berries are sweet and contain high concentrations of mono- and di-saccharides. Berries are rich in vitamin C and energy content but low in fats. Sugar content of huckleberry fruits is generally greater at higher elevations. Sweetness does not appear to be significantly affected by shade.

Value For Rehabilitation of Disturbed Sites:

Blue huckleberry has been rated as having low value for short-term rehabilitation and moderate value for long-term rehabilitation. This shrub has a dense network of roots and rhizomes and can prevent soil erosion on some sites. Plants can be easily propagated from rhizome cuttings, but stem cutting may not root. Blue huckleberry can also be grown from seed and container-grown seedlings transplanted onto favorable sites 6 to 7 weeks after emergence. Methods of asexual propagation and seed collection and storage have been examined by a number of researchers.

Berry Production:

Berry production of blue huckleberry fluctuates annually according to weather conditions. Flower production is typically better during warm, moist springs than when weather is unusually cool or dry. Growing conditions during the previous season can affect fruit production by influencing the amount of stored carbohydrates present in the roots. Late spring frosts or summer hailstorms can also result in poor berry crops. Fruit production also varies with site characteristics such as soils, light, and topography. Berry productivity is generally highest on intermediate topographic positions at middle elevations. In western Montana, north or east slopes tend to be more productive than south or west aspects. Fruit production tends to be best on relatively fertile soils with high levels of organic matter and available soil moisture. Impact of timber harvest on berry production: Disturbances such as timber harvest can favor berry production under some circumstances by increasing light and reducing competing vegetation.

**Information provided by the USDA Fire Effects Information System.

Other Uses of Huckleberries:

Advertisements found from throughout the PNW:

Wild Huckleberry Wheat Lager. In honor of the huckleberries that grow wild throughout the Flathead Valley, we unveiled this summer brew in the spring of 1996. A combination of 75% Western pale malted barley, 25% malted wheat, Cascade hops and wild huckleberry juice from the Flathead Valley, were used to create this highly drinkable, thirst-quenching lager. A delightfully unique fruit beer, this pale summer brew combines the crisp, dry refreshment of a light lager with asubtle, tart hint of huckleberries that is neither sweet nor overpowering.

Huckleberry Pie Filling. Want a pie filling that will stand out in a crowd and make you tongue do summersaults? Try the filling that started it all and made us famous! Didn't get a chance to get to the woods this year? Then go ahead and use our filling and tell 'em that its your own doing. We won't tell!

Huckleberry BBQ Glaze. The meat may be domestic, but the flavor will be wild when you add Huckleberry Barbecue Glaze to your next cook-out! Its the perfect accent to bring out the best in your favorite cut of steak.

Huckleberry Dipped Pretzels. There's nothing quite like the combination of salty pretzels and the a sweet huckleberry coating. Its one of those "can't eat just one" treats that keeps you coming back for more.

Huckleberry Almond Bark. Delicate, yet distinct, describes the flavor of this Huckleberry Almond Bark. Its the perfect treat to satisfy your sweet tooth and your craving for "something different" all at once.

Huckleberry Caramel Corn. Huckleberry caramel popcorn is far superior to standard caramel corn, cheese corn, or any of the others. Its delicate flavor and crunch keeps you coming back for more!

Huckleberry Jam. One taste of wild mountain huckleberry jam will transport you - to the mountains of Northern Idaho on a beautiful summer's day. Close your eyes and you'll be standing on a mountainside breathing the fresh air and the scent of berries as you gaze down upon the shimmering waters of Priest Lake far below. Its a treat you won't forget!

Huckleberry Syrup. Don't settle for ordinary when you can enjoy the wild and wonderful flavor of huckleberries on your pancakes! This sweet - tart flavor will wake up your taste buds and start you off on a wonderful day.