Native American Uses of California's Natives
by Roger Snell
From the PDF: HRN Newsletter - June 2009
The Native Americans of California were primarily hunter gatherers and did not have agriculture in the sense we think of, but they did actively mange their environments. Prescribed burning was done to produce the proper growth on plants for basket weaving, encourage favored game, protect themselves from predators (Chaparral was the favored habitat of the Grizzly), enhance food production, maintain prairies and grasslands. Also, centuries of tilling, sowing and pruning done to increase their food supply, had an effect on what the Europeans called the “Garden of Eden” when they first encountered California.
California’s Native Americans were some of the most extraordinary basket weavers the world has known. Baskets were woven to hold water, for harvesting, backpacks and as cooking pots, were hot stones were put in them to make the acorn soup that was so important to their diet. All with intricate designs and decorations. The horizontal roots of Basket Grass (Carex barbarae) was a very important and is now used in riparian restoration, dying the strands to interweave patterns in the baskets. Deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) flower stalks were used in the foundations of coiled baskets. Redbud (Cercis occidentalis) was highly valued, fire was used to prune and encourage straight, supple new growth. The wine red stems are used in the warp, weft and design of baskets.
Acorns were the most important food crop of the early Californians. Seemingly hard to believe that a whole villages sustenance would be tied to the gathering of acorns until you realize one oak can produce 500 to 1000 pounds of acorns. Protecting a grove of oaks would become very important to these early orchardists. Other than food the oak, such as Quercus kelogii, would provide medicine, dyes, utensils, games, toys and construction materials.
Silvery bark and large cones of white flowers ,the highly ornamental California Buckeye (Aesculus californica), was used to make spindles for fire making kits and the seeds were used to stupefy fish and as medicine. Warning: they are poisonous to humans in their raw state.
Prunus virginiana was a mini-mart in the woods with fruits that are eaten raw or cooked into jellies, jams , syrups and pudding. The inner bark is medicinal, the seeds are used as jewelry, branches as arrow shafts, cradle boards and other sundries.
The elderberry, Sambucus mexicana, held special significance. Berries, leaves and flowers were used as food, medicine and dyes. Twigs and wood are used for arrow shafts and musical instruments such as a clapper that was used in place of drums for singing. Singing was an essential part of daily life and also to cure the sick. The Native Shamans believed that proper breathing was one of the most important parts of recovery. Singing was the way to give breathing therapy to the ill.
The beautiful shrub Ribes (currant) has wonderfully edible berries that were dried for winter and eaten fresh. Also a favorite of hummingbirds and one of my favorite natives for the garden.
All parts of the California native rose (Rosa californica) was used by Native Americans: the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits were eaten and as a therapeutic agent.
Our native Willow (Salix sp.) was invaluable to Native Californian’s household goods. Hats, cooking vessels, cradleboards for newborns, serving bowls trays, seed beaters, storage baskets, water jugs, willow framed houses, rooftops, weaving sticks, arrow shafts, bows, prayer sticks and medicine were produced from willows.
The Chumash people held California poppies in special regard, believing that they were the ruin of young girls. Boys would take the girls out gathering poppies, and the flowers beauty would overcome the girls and cause them to yield to the boys.
Native Californians knew their environment would provide for them and had everything they needed. Our native plants are hosts to many beneficial insects and animals, the land needs us to replant and repair the damage brought about by the European colonization. The world is experiencing colony collapse disorder of honey bees and frogs are going extinct at alarming rates. In some places once healthy colonies of frogs have disappeared in the matter of a few years; colonies of bats are dying off in caves that have had little or no human contact and other frightening losses of biodiversity. We need to provide a safe haven for what is left. The pollinator that goes extinct today could be the savior of our agriculture tomorrow.