Gathering “Mouse Roots,” Among the Naukan and Chukchi of the Russian Far East

  • Kevin Jernigan Cross-cultural Studies Program, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, USA
  • Olga Belichenko Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Università Ca' Foscari, Venice, Italy
  • Valeria Kolosova Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Università Ca' Foscari,Venice, Italy
  • Darlene Orr Ethnobotany Program, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, USA
  • Maria Pupynina Department of Languages of Russia, Institute for Linguistic Studies, St. Petursburg, Russia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14237/ebl.10.1.2019.1605
Keywords: Ethnobotany, Traditional knowledge, Wild edibles, Chukotka, Chukchi, Naukan, Perspectivism

Abstract

The authors worked from 2014–2016, with 67 Naukan and Chukchi participants in six villages on the subject of “mouse roots,” a category of edible plants, including tubers of five species, taken from caches of Microtus voles. Only eight out of 44 Chukchi and none of the Naukan respondents said that they still actively gather these foods. However, 43 out of 44 Chukchi and 21 out of 23 Naukan participants still possess specific knowledge of the process, for example: how to find nests, proper techniques and etiquette for gathering, storage, preparation, or botanical identity of species found. This reflects the rapid cultural changes that occurred during the Soviet period, including collectivization and consolidation of the population into larger villages. The maintenance of knowledge about resources that no longer play a large role in subsistence never-the-less aids in the resilience of local people to potential economic hardship and food insecurity. This particular relationship between humans, rodents, and plants provides an opportunity to examine the strengths and limitations for applying the concept of perspectivism in this cultural setting. These Chukotkan “mouse root” traditions show commonalities with similar practices among the neighboring Iñupiaq and Central Alaskan Yup’ik communities. Most notably, species gathered from rodent nests are similar on both sides of the Bering Strait as are rules for how to show proper respect to the animals when gathering. However, methods of preparation differ significantly between Chukotkan and Alaskan cultures.

Author Biographies

Kevin Jernigan, Cross-cultural Studies Program, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, USA

Kevin Jernigan is an anthropologist affiliated with the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. His research focuses on traditional ecological knowledge and medical systems of Amazonian and Arctic indigenous peoples.

 

Olga Belichenko, Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Università Ca' Foscari, Venice, Italy

Olga Belichenko is a PhD student in the Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Università Ca' Foscari.

Valeria Kolosova, Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Università Ca' Foscari,Venice, Italy

Valeria Kolosova is a Research Grant Holder in the Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Università Ca' Foscari.

Darlene Orr, Ethnobotany Program, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, USA

Darlene Orr is part of the Ethnobotany Program at the University of Alaska.

Maria Pupynina, Department of Languages of Russia, Institute for Linguistic Studies, St. Petursburg, Russia

Maria Pupynina is in the Department of Languages of Russia at the Institute for Linguistic Studies.

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Digging for H. hedysaroides in Lorino. This species, reported as an important “mouse root,” is now more commonly gathered by hand. Photo by Kevin Jernigan.
Published
2019-12-14
How to Cite
Jernigan, K., Belichenko, O., Kolosova, V., Orr, D., & Pupynina, M. (2019). Gathering “Mouse Roots,” Among the Naukan and Chukchi of the Russian Far East. Ethnobiology Letters, 10(1), 129-138. https://doi.org/10.14237/ebl.10.1.2019.1605
Issue
Vol 10 No 1 (2019)
Section
Research Communications

Copyright (c) 2019 Kevin Jernigan, Olga Belichenko, Valeria Kolosova, Darlene Orr, Maria Pupynina

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