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.

Piñon Pine Nuts

Our first 2010 Dragonfly Lecture will take us back several thousand years or so.

Daniel McCarthy will speak about piñon pines.

Piñon pine in San Bernardino National Forest © Pat Murkland

The nuts inside the pine cones have been an important Native American food source for centuries.

Growing pine cone, San Bernardino National Forest © Pat Murkland

Closeup of nut remaining in aged cone © Pat Murkland

People often focus on the importance of the oak acorn, but the pine nut also was important to Inland Southern California's First People.

Still is.

Learn more about San Manuel Reservation's 2009 harvests, part of the tribal cultural education program, here.

Come discover more.

Our lecturer, Daniel McCarthy, an archaeologist and tribal manager for San Bernardino National Forest, has done extensive research on the native uses of plants.

DETAILS:

6 p.m. Feb. 22

Dorothy Ramon Learning Center

17 West Hays, Banning, CA

Donations at the door will help the nonprofit Learning Center save and share Southern California's American Indian cultures, languages, history, and traditional arts.