Growing up in Mountain Village, my family would travel to Arularviq, an abundant spot about 40 miles down the Yukon River, or to Clear Water, behind the 500-foot-tall Azachorok Mountain, to go berry picking. I have fond memories of picking with my mother, Tina, and stepfather, Brian.
The last few times I've returned home, it's been mainly in the winter months. This year, I made a decision to go home to go berry picking for my 85-year-old grandmother, Maria, who is elderly and disabled, and not so mobile anymore.
Read more: In the Y-K Delta, berry picking time yields rich crop of memories