The Kumeyaay Way - Winter 2008 - (Page 14)

P r e s e r v i n g c u lt u r e & H e r i ta g e Story Name Cultural www.viejasbandofkumeyaay.org embrace There is a rich tradition in the practice—from the collection of the acorns to the intricate process of the making the shawii. In ancient times, according to Kumeyaay elders, a young woman had a dream about the acorn and how it would help nourish her people. The dream revealed to her where to find the acorns, when to pick them, and how to prepare them. She was instructed in her dream to tell the women that when they went to gather the acorns in the late fall months, that they had to be clean [not on their monthly cycles] and that they should always give thanks to the Creator while gathering the acorns. In the dream, the woman was told that if the acorns were gathered following these instructions, then the shawii would always be good. “When the woman awoke from her dream, she told the tribal leader. The tribal leader asked the women to pass along the tradition to their children and grandchildren so that the Kumeyaay would always know how to gather and prepare the acorns,” said Tribal Councilwoman Virginia Chissay Christman, who grew up gathering acorns and preparing the shawii with her mother, Cecilia LaChappa Chissay, and her aunt, Margaret LaChappa Amador. F The Acorn: A Kumeyaay Tradition 14 or centuries the Kumeyaay people, like most Native Americans, lived in harmony with the land, which provided them with an abundance of food, water and animals. The Kumeyaay people grew vegetables like corn, squash and beans; hunted in the mountains, and caught fish in the Pacific Ocean, rivers and nearby streams. As stewards of the land, the Kumeyaay were aware of the cycles of the seasons and which foods would be plentiful and easy to find during certain times of the year. In the fall, as the leaves began to turn colors and morning and evening temperatures became cooler, Kumeyaay women would travel inland to places like the Cuyamaca Mountains where the oak trees had dropped their acorns. When prepared correctly, acorns, a staple in the Kumeyaay diet, are eaten fresh in the form of a mush similar to cornmeal or in a gelatinous form called shawii (pronounced shahWEE). Shawii can be eaten plain or with meals. While the shawii is no longer a wintertime staple for all Kumeyaay families, the traditional dish of shawii can often be found at feasts and celebrations. The Kumeyaay Way  http://www.viejasbandofkumeyaay.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Kumeyaay Way - Winter 2008

The Kumeyaay Way - Winter 2008 Contents Kumeyaay History Looking Back at the River of Tears Keeping the Borders Open for All Kumeyaay Tribal Security—Safety First Cultural Embrace Viejas Tribal Member Rescues Eagle Education for All Future in Their Hands Viejas Pow Wow Honors Native American Veterans Growing Traditions—Viejas Community Garden Remember When

The Kumeyaay Way - Winter 2008

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