Berry Plants and Berry Picking in Inuit Nunangat: Traditions in a Changing Socio-Ecological Landscape

Traditional food is central to Inuit culture and sense of identity. Recent changesin lifestyle, climate, and animal populations have influenced how people practice and experience activities on the land. We summarize the findings of 191 new and archived interviews addressing the continued relationships of Inuit to berriesin the Canadian territories of Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut. Berryplants have been and remain widely used throughout the study area. Berrypicking is an important cultural activity that contributes to spiritual, personal, and community wellbeing. In some regions, the availability of berriesand accessibility to berrypatches are threatened by climate change, recent increases in goosepopulations, as well as community development. Studyoutcomes suggest that berrypicking should be considered in land-use planningsince, alongside hunting and fishing, it is an activity that contributes to physical and mental health while being an important cultural practiceacross Inuit territories.