Gitk'san fruit salad

easy

The Gitk'san (Gitxsan) peoples live along the Skeena river in central British Columbia about 150 miles north of Vancouver. Salmon trading was very important to the Gitk'san, meaning "people of the river mist", as well as the processed oil of oolichan, a smelt like fish that was an important food staple.

Celebratory gatherings, li'ligit, were held regularly for births, deaths, naming ceremonies and totem pole raisings. Feasts of traditional food as well as gift exchanges were a huge part of these celebrations. Women would bring preserves to the celebration and all preserves were mixed together and served. The left over fruit salad was divided amongst the familes and sent home to enjoy.

Wild berries in this recipe refers to a mix of strawberries, raspberries, haskaps, blackberries, saskatoon and blueberries.

Ingredients:

  • 2.5 cups apple and pear preserves
  • 1 150ml can of applesauce
  • 2 cups wild berries
  • 1/2 cup orange sections
  • whipped cream

Mix all fruit together. Garnish with whipped cream.

This recipe was adapted from the book "Where People Feast - An Indigenous People's Cookbook" by Dolly and Annie Walls.