CEDAR BOX

Shrouded in snow most of the year, these high lands are only accessible in summer and early autumn. The growing season is short, but very productive. Mountain huckleberries, alpine lilies, yellow cedar, beargrass, arnica and many other foods, basketry plants, and medicines thrive in high meadows. Native People have cared for the meadows through specialized harvesting techniques, weeding out unwanted species, as well as burning the meadows, which regenerates the soil and prevents conifers from taking over. Many Native families maintain that it is well worth making the journey to harvest huckleberries and other mountain foods and medicines in late summer.