Pinyon Pine Nuts, 2

Pinyon pines are prolific in the San Bernardino Mountains, so it should be no surprise that their pine nuts also were prized by the Serrano people.

The single-leaf pinyon is also called the piñon pine as shown in our most recent post.

The Latin name is Pinus monophylla.

The Serrano name is tuvat.

(That's according to Ernest H. Siva, Cahuilla-Serrano elder and president of Dorothy Ramon Learning Center.)

John Peabody Harrington (1918) and Ruth Benedict (1924) were among those reporting the historical methods of collecting the pinyon pine nuts for food, and for use in ceremonial and ritual activities (Lerch 2005).

Our speaker on Feb. 22, Daniel McCarthy, tribal relations manager for San Bernardino National Forest, has found prehistoric roasting ovens that were used for pine nuts.

Come to the Dragonfly Lecture to learn more from Daniel McCarthy about this fascinating tree and its traditional uses.

DETAILS:

Feb. 22, 6 p.m.

Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, 17 W. Hays, Banning

Donations at the door help our nonprofit save and share Southern California American Indian cultures, languages, history, music and other traditional arts.