Berries
Itpiluktuk Iñupiaq Name: Itpiluktuk phonetic spelling: it-pitla-uk-tuk plural: Itpiluktut translation /other information meaning "from the Indians" English Name: American Red Currant Scientific Name Ribes trista Source:
Itpiluktuk is a tall shrub that grow in only one area in Golovin, along the cliffs trail leading up to the top to the hill. The plant grows to about 2 or 3 feet tall. The bark is a reddish-brown color. The bright green leaves are 3 to 5 lobed. The flowers are purplish and grow in clusters just below the leavse. The berries are bright red and translucent. This plant does not grow well in Golovin. I only found one plant around town and no one had heard of it before. There is no name for it because it is growing beyond the extent of it's usual range. I imagine that a bird imported the seeds for the one plant. The berries are tasty and it the population grows I predict that the plant will be used more frequently. This pioneer species is following a trend of species that are advancing into unknown ranges as time progresses after the last ice age. There are several species that are growing further and further into new territories, such as this berry plant and spruce trees. Itpiluktuk is a new word assigned to this plant meaning "from the Indians". The Elders I spoke with didn't remember this plant in the Golovin region. They associate things from outside their region as from the Athabaskan regions, thus the name became "From the Indians" - Itpiluktuk.