North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Jim Fruth" <jimfruth@charter.net>]

Though many people think (incorrectly) that the fruit is poisonous, it was 
eaten widely by British Columbia First Peoples. Clusters of berries were 
gathered in July and August. Berries were detached back at camp and cooked 
overnight in steaming pits or boiled in redcedar boxes. Berries were placed 
over fires on skunk cabbage leaves and dried into cakes for later use. To 
improve the flavour, red elderberries were mixed with other kinds of 
berries. Recently people mix the berries with sugar and make wine jelly or 
jam. (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center)