Tlingit Recipes of Today and Long Ago
The recipes in this book have been collected over the years and were meant to share and pass on. I thank my mom and dad for raising their children with all the native traditional foods. I thank my mother-in-law, Emma Duncan, for her wisdom and teaching me the way to collect and prepare our native food. I thank my husband, Al Duncan, for going out and providing our family and many friends with traditional and native foods. May this book serve as a source of reference for my children and grandchildren as they continue to teach their children the beauty of our native culture and the importance of providing native foods to their family. I pray they share the wisdom their grandparents and parents were taught on respect for the animals, land, oceans, plants and self.
This book is dedicated to our five children, Melonie, Lisa, Albert, Paul, Crystal, and my six grandchildren, Mitchell, Alise, Marliss, Tristian, Nyla and Alec. May their spirit be as rich and bright as the berries. May the forest always open its boughs of treasure to all of them and may they walk with knowledge to seek it.
I respectfully acknowledge my son-in-laws, Ted Gassman and Clancy Boord, my daughter-in-laws, Cindy and Cheryl. I am blessed to have wonderful, energetic, loving and hard working in-laws. Thank you for your commitment to your family. Thank you for wanting to learn as much as you can about the Tlingit culture, traditions and food.
This book represents the continuing tradition of the passing down of the knowledge of our forests, the ocean and all that they provide for us to our children and grandchildren. May they walk in the way of our forefathers and know that they will never do without, so long as they know the ways of old.
Devil's Club Ointment by Pauline Duncan
Species-Opiopanax Horridus (horrible pain caused by the thorns). The ointment contains no chemicals. The devil's club is believed to be a powerful healing plant. The Natives believe the plant can ward off bad luck and sickness. It is not unusual today to see a stalk of the plant hanging over the doorway of a home or boat. The outer bark of the devil's club is scraped off and the inner bark is prepared for use as a drink. Some will soak the stalk in water or boil as tea.
Spruce Pitch
Some ointments contain spruce pitch. The pitch is combined with the devil's club. The pitch contains some healing agents for infections and minor skin conditions.
Disclaimer: The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these statements
Directions
Try on a small patch of skin to ensure no allergic reaction. Recommended for only external conditions. Use at your own risk. Some users have claimed it helps skin healing for radiation burns, shingles, cold sores, bug bites, arthritis, and other chronic skin conditions. Devil's club and spruce pitch are two ancient remedies that are used today.
Where to Buy
Pauline Duncan721 Lake St
Sitka, AK 99835
(907) 747-6987