Summer camps were moved to new picking locations, and berries were collected, dried and used in making pemmican. Arrow shafts were made from the hard, straight-grained wood. The medicinal uses of the plant were many too. The berries were used to treat liver trouble, and as a laxative, and the inner bark or roots were a remedy for diarrhea. An indication of the value of saskatoons is shown by their historic use by native peoples as a trade item.
Saskatoon berries are reddish-purple to black, and are sweet and edible.
The berries are an excellent source of Vitamin C, manganese, magnesium, iron and a good source of calcium, potassium, copper, and carotene. The content of protein, fat, and fibre is higher than other fruits, because the edible seeds are also consumed. Many different varieties have been producted by horticulturalists for commercial and garden use. It can be grafted onto apples, pears and cotoneaster. When seeds are used, a proportion of the plants grown from any one batch of seed will be different from the parent stock.