About this Project | ELOKA

Exploring the structure and function of microbial communities

This project is an ethnobotanical study of three cultures in the Bering Strait region. We are working with Naukan and Chukchi people on the Russian side and Central Alaskan Yup’ik people on the US side, documenting and comparing how people use the same (or very similar) plant species as food, medicine and for other purposes.

Here are some photos from our work.

Gathering edible greens near Uelen, Russia — Gathering edible greens near Uelen, Russia

A tasty dinner of fermented Rhodiola tops, walrus fat and svitk’eret (walrus meat stew), Enurmino, Russia. — A tasty dinner of fermented Rhodiola tops, walrus fat and svitk’eret (walrus meat stew), Enurmino, Russia.

Edible saxifrage leaves in seal oil, Neshkan, Russia — Edible saxifrage leaves in seal oil, Neshkan, Russia

A view of Scammon Bay, Alaska. — A view of Scammon Bay, Alaska.

Edible fern fiddleheads, western Alaska. — Edible fern fiddleheads, western Alaska.