Partnering with Alaska Native Communities to Link Science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Wild Berry Resources

Joshua Kellogg, Courtney Flint, Gary Ferguson, Ilya Raskin, Mary Ann Lila

June 8, 2010 2010 National Tribal Science Forum

Participatory Research Framework

Key Informant Site Visits Interviews Secondary Data Secondary Subsistence Risk Perceptions Health Resource Use Interviews Student-led

Community Traditional Berries Wellness Knowledge Laboratory Validation

Environmental Youth – Elder Bioactivity of Ongoing Change Interface Wild Berries Communication

Household Surveys Screens to Nature Screens-to-Nature (STN) System

• Portfolio of 20 qualitative field bioassays • Medium-throughput techniques • Primary indicators of bioactivity • Participatory research tool STN Characteristics

• Field-deployable kits •Colorimetric/visual indicators • Accessible to all science backgrounds • Accurate, reproducible assay techniques

• Engaging, inclusive methodology for working with communities Alaskan Berries

• 5 species analyzed, based upon community recommendations

• Vaccinium uliginosum (“lowbush blueberry”) • Vaccinium ovalifolium (“highbush blueberry”) Alaskan Berries

• 5 species analyzed, based upon community recommendations

• Emptrum nigrum (“blackberry”, “mossberry”, “crowberry”) Alaskan Berries

• 5 species analyzed, based upon community recommendations

• Rubus spectabilis (“salmonberry”) • Rubus chamaemorus (“salmonberry”, “cloudberry”) Assay Selection for Alaska • Related to Alaska Native health concerns

• Protease/Protease Inhibition Î Infectious diseases • Amylase/Amylase Inhibition Î Metabolic disorders • Antioxidant Potential Î Systemic radical protection STN Workshops

• Interfaced with Alaskan communities

• Community members led field collection and identification STN Workshops

• Students and community members evaluated berries for bioactivity

© Dr. Courtney Flint 2008 Assay Results Protease Amylase Ripe/ Protease Amylase Antioxidant Berry Inhibitor Inhibitor Unripe Assay Assay Assay Assay Assay from Akutan, Alaska Rubus spectabilis R No Yes 0 1 2 Rubus spectabilis U No No 0 1 1 Vaccinium ovalifolium R No Yes 0 2 3 Vaccinium ovalifolium U No No 0 1 1 Empetrum nigrum R No Yes 0 2 2 Empetrum nigrum U No No 0 1 2

• Differentiate between ripe/unripe berry chemistry • Berries demonstrated high levels of digestive and proteolytic enzyme inhibition • Good antioxidant potential Laboratory Analysis - Phytochemistry •Anthocyanins – Antioxidant, cardiovascular protection, maintain eyesight – Upwards of 4.39 mg per g fruit –Higher than most other berry fruit Laboratory Analysis - Phytochemistry • Proanthocyanidins –Prevent obesity, cardiovascular and urinary tract protection – Up to 6.25 mg per g fruit – Higher than other popular foods – Presence of rare, A- type proanthocyanidins in all species Laboratory Analysis - Bioassays • Fat cell models – Increased inhibitor enzymes by ≤82% – Decreased lipid uptake in mature cells ≤20% – Potential to decrease maturation and size of fat cells, delay onset of obesity Laboratory Analysis - Bioassays • Diabetic rat study – E. nigrum and V. uliginosum decreased post-meal blood glucose levels by 24- 45% –Comparable to pharmaceutical Metformin ® – Evidence of potential to offset diabetes when included in the diet Laboratory Analysis

• Results support STN data information – Amylase inhibition and antidiabetic potential

• Both STN and lab assays reinforce traditional perspectives on berries – Berries make an important contribution to diet Impact of STN

• Function as bridge between traditional ecological knowledge and laboratory science – Provide an accessible tool for bioactivity determination – Lend scientific validity to traditional perspectives

• Engage communities in biodiscovery – Foster collaboration between communities and university scientists – Serve as educational and scientific tool across generations Reception of STN by Communities

• Students within community responded positively to the STN assays – The STN workshop was “fascinating and interesting” for “learning if our berries were healthy” – “I found it interesting!”

• Perceived as a way to investigate native plants among and between generations Participatory Interviews & Surveys • School-centered focus – Youth-led interviews • Community and elder perspectives on berries, health, and climate change – Youth assistance with survey • Quantification of engagement with berries, community & environmental risk perceptions – Youth perspectives on environmental threats and benefits • Point Hope workshop and comparison with adults Communities & Berries • Berries highly valued in each community – Associations with health – Role of berries in community • Food source, tradition, outdoor activity, sharing • Where commercialized, tensions over access • In Point Hope, concern over risks from climate change & contamination – Berry quality and quantity seen as highly influenced by climate • Local knowledge of climate variables useful for projecting potential impacts Climate & Berries • Berry quality and quantity seen as highly influenced by climate – Timing of precipitation – Low but consistent winter temperatures – Sunshine availability – Warm summers

• Local knowledge of climate variables useful for projecting potential impacts Broader Environmental Context • Environmental concerns ranged from mild to severe across study communities – Industrial activity and waste incineration – Climate change perceptions ranged from mild/natural/cyclical to severe/human- induced/warming Broader Community Context •Threats to • Opportunities for community wellness community wellness – Substance abuse – Therapeutic community – Change in diet away – Traditional values from subsistence – Connecting local foods subsistence foods with – Loss of traditions healthy lifestyles and – Community conflicts generational integration Concluding Summary

• Project was unique opportunity to interface with communities – Developing transdisciplinary methodologies – Bridging laboratory science and traditional knowledge • STN portfolio provides 1st-level indications of bioactivity of plant material • Innovative methodology to biodiscovery – Engage communities in research on important resources – Support local perspectives and traditions for building community wellness Acknowledgements

The communities of Point Hope, Akutan, and Seldovia! Thank You!