CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ETHNOBOTANY OF THE CUP'IT ESKIMO, NUNIVAK ISLAND, ALASKA

• Main Author: Dennis Griffin
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Key words; ethnobotany; Cup'it Eskimo; indigenous plant use; Nunivak Island; Alaska; eskimo*; Nunivak
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.691.7709

ABSTRACT.-Ethnobotanical information on the Native use of 47 spedes of in-digenous plants on Nunivak Island, Alaska is presented. Changes in subsistence use among the Cup'it Eskimo of Nunivak, throughout the twentieth centuey, have resulted in the loss of traditional ethnobotanical knowledge. While previous stud-ies have presented limited information on the importance of particular plant spe-cies to the local diet, additional data regarding the role of indigenous plants and subsequent changes in plant use have recently been recorded. They are discussed here in light of the adoption of western foods and medicines and increased contact of the Cup'it with mainland peoples. Current knowledge of traditional plant use and the importance of plants to local dietary, medicinal and utilitarian uses are summarized.