Sharing and Preserving Indigenous Language and Culture

Our Story:

GOPressLogoPechanga established Great Oak Press in order to provide an avenue by which Native voices and topics of significance and importance to Native Americans could find their way into the contemporary discourse and become both a growing and permanent part of recorded knowledge. As a publisher of scholarly and academic books, Pechanga’s Great Oak Press is dedicated to working with the leading experts, as well as the up and coming experts in a wide range of fields, ranging from the arts to the sciences and from history to languages. Our focus, though broad in topics, is finely centered on publishing works of great importance that preserve and expand knowledge, in addition to encouraging creative thought and intellectual exploration.

For a complete list of our books, please visit www.greatoakpress.com.

Order online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other fine book vendors:

Our books are also available from the Great Oak Press office and the Pechanga Resort and Casino Gift Shop.
For large orders, please contact our distributor at www.pathwaybook.com or 1-800-345-6665.

ACTIVELY SEEKING NEW AUTHORS in Native American and California Studies topics.

Acquisitions:

Lauren Kirschke Niezgodzki
Director, Editor-in-Chief
Office 1-951-770-6330
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Submissions to GOJ (Great Oak Journal)

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Contact Us:

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www.greatoakpress.com

Culbertson, Farnbach teaming up to write Temecula winery food pairing book

There's likely no better person to write a book about pairing food with Temecula wines than Martha Culbertson. And there's nobody more qualified to write about the history of the wineries than Rebecca Farnbach. Fortunately, Culbertson and Farnbach are teaming up to do just that. The duo is currently working on "Flavors of the Temecula Wineries," to be published by Pechanga's Great Oak Press, sometime in late 2019. (READ MORE)

Q&A with Lauren Kirschke of Great Oak Press

For some, the name “Pechanga” is synonymous with gaming, thanks in part to the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians’ Temecula resort and casino, which is among the largest in California. But an example of the tribe’s focus on both economic diversity and initiatives designed to ensure the vitality of a culture that stretches back 10,000 years, is its small academic press launched four years ago. (READ MORE)

The True California Mission Story

Author and academic Michelle Lorimer takes the sugarcoating off California missions with her book, 'Resurrecting the Past'. (READ MORE)

GREAT OAK BOOKS

CHILDREN’S BOOKS:

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‘Atáaxum Alphabet
Pechanga Collaboration
$11.95

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Chuxíllaxish
Pechanga Collaboration
$10.00

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Good Night, Pechanga!
English, Luiseño, Bilingual
Myra Masiel-Zamora
Illustrated by Jo A. Garcia
$9.95

 

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Híycham um ‘ivím?
Edited by Alexis Munoa Dyer
Illustrated by Lorraine Munoa
$10.00

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'Ivá' Pá'kwarit Po'é' 'Axánya
Pechanga Collaboration
$11.95

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'Iví' Axánninik Popúsh Wi'áasal Maríqqaxma Kuláawut
Pechanga Collaboration
$11.95

 

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'Iví' Axánninik Sakíshla Pówki 'Axánya
Pechanga Collaboration
$9.95


Kíicha
English, Luiseño, Bilingual
Jo A. Garcia
$11.95

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Wóoyiwuncha!
Pechanga Collaboration
$10.00

 

 

INDIGENOUS STUDIES & CALIFORNIA SERIES:

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‘Éxva Teméeku: Where We Began
Myra Masiel-Zamora
Hardcover $49.99,
paperback $29.99

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Indians of the Tulares: Adaptation, Relocation, and Subjugation in Central California, 1771-1917
George Harwood Philips
$59.99

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Payómkawichum Pomtúkmay: Baskets of the People of the West
Myra Masiel-Zamora
Photographs by Julie Jackson
$40.00

 

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Resurrecting the Past: The California Mission Myth
Michelle M. Lorimer, Ph.D.
Hardcover $29.99,
paperback
$18.99

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Shadows of Sherman Institute: A Photographic History of the Indian School on Magnolia Avenue
Clifford Trafzer, Jeffrey Smith, Lorene Sisquoc
$45.00

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The Symbionese Liberation Army and Patricia Hearst, Queen of the Revolution
Gregory Cumming, Stephen Sayles
$18.95

 

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Traditional Homes

Today, all Pechanga people live in modern houses or apartments, but before the arrival of the Spanish, their ancestors, the Payómkawichum (Luiseño people) lived in kíicha (houses).  Kíicha were mainly used for sleeping and as shelter from bad weather.  All other daily activities (cooking, weaving, tool-making, etc.) were done outside.

While all kíicha are slightly different due to three different materials they can be made from, they are usually dome- or cone-shaped, and were lined with furs or skins to keep wind and water out.  The owners covered the floors with mats made of juncus or tule reeds. A kíicha’s door was made of an animal hide or a reed mat.  After the arrival of Europeans, some ‘ataaxum (Native people) made “ramada-style” kíicha, which look a lot like European cottages, but they were made of native materials (usually willow).  Kíicha were repaired as needed, and a well-maintained kíicha could last for many years. When they got too old or too damaged to fix, their owners would burn them and build a new house.  A new kíicha usually took a few days to build.

TraditionalHome WillowHouse290x

Şaxáatal kíicha (Willow house)

Willow houses are made of willow branches and twigs (with leaves still attached) stuffed between a double-layered willow frame.  Willow trees usually grow near waterways. Because willows were so abundant in the Temecula Valley, they were the most commonly used building material in this area.  Willow houses were semi-subterranean.  The house builders would dig a round, shallow hole about one or two feet deep where they planned to put the house.  This served two purposes: it leveled the floor inside the home and helped regulate the temperature inside.  Willow houses were found throughout the valley, but were most often built on slight slopes to keep rainwater from collecting inside them.

TraditionalHome CedarBarkHouse

'éesatal kíicha (Cedar bark house)

Cedar bark houses are made of large slabs of cedar bark layered over a frame of vertical poles. Like willow houses, cedar bark houses were constructed over a shallow pit. They were built in the mountains using bark pulled from dead cedar trees. The water-resistant bark is layered three or four slabs deep, and it provides excellent protection from rain, snow, and wind.

TraditionalHome TuleHouse

Pivéesatal kíicha (Tule house)

Tule houses are made of fresh tule reeds folded and tied over willow frames.  Tule, which grows in and near water, makes good houses for the spring and summer.  It is water-repellent and keeps the inside of the kíicha cool on hot days.
Tule houses were usually built near lakes and rivers.

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Animals

Our Creation story tells us that all beings were brought to life on the earth at the same time. Animals are considered to be relatives of the Luiseño People. They present themselves to us and allow us to obtain them for food and other uses. It is an agreement, or part of our relationship.

Some of these animals include:

Abalone
(Haliotis sp.)
Bighorn Sheep
(Ovis canadensis)
Black-tailed Jack Rabbit
(Lepus californicus)
California Quail
(Callipepla californica)
Canada Goose
(Branta Canadensis)
Clam
(Pecten sp.)
Cottontail Rabbit
(Sylvilagus audubonii)
Dusky-footed Woodrat
(Neotoma fuscipes)
Golden Eagle
(Aquila chrysaetos)
Ground Squirrel
(Otospermophilus beecheyi)
Mallard Duck
(Anas platyrhynchos)
Mule Deer
(Odocoileus hemionus)
Pronghorn Antelope
(Antilocapra americana)
Rainbow Trout
(Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Redtail Hawk
(Buteo jamaicensis)
Western Pond Turtle
(Clemmys marmorata)
Nuttall’s Woodpecker
(Picoides nuttallii)

Our people also utilized other animals not listed here, including many birds, insects, fish, and shellfish.

Animal CAquail Animal CottontailRabbit  Animal GoldenEagle Animal MallardDuck  Animal MuleDeer Animal rat  Animal RedtailHawk Animal Squirrel Animal Turtle

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Native Plants and Their Uses

Plants are the most important resource the ‘atáaxum have. They have long provided us with food, shelter, clothing, tools, and medicine. Plants are utilized in the production of bows, arrows, brushes, baskets, hats, houses, mats, cradle-boards, fishing nets, carrying nets, granaries, seed beaters, digging sticks, ceremonial items, skirts, aprons, sandals, flutes, whistles, clapper sticks, and rattles. However, knowing what a plant is used for is only part of the story. Processing plant materials to make them useable requires time, knowledge, and skill.

Below is a list of some of the native plants that were—and are—most commonly used by the Pechaángayam and our ancestors:

As important as these plants are to us, please use caution if you decide to harvest them yourself. Some plants can hurt you if they are gathered and/or processed improperly, and others can easily be confused for similar poisonous plants.

 

plant Agave

Agave (Agave deserti)

Agave leaves were processed for fiber and the stalk was gathered and processed just like the stalk of the yucca. Agave fiber is very coarse and strong and makes excellent sandals. Many people are allergic to agave sap and should use caution when first attempting to harvest or process this plant.

 

plant ArrowWeed

Arrow Weed (Pluchea sericea)

Arrow Weed received its name because its long slender stalks are ideal for making arrow shafts.

 

plant BlackOak

Black Oak (Quercus kelloggii)

The Black oak is a deciduous tree and produces a high-quality acorn that was one of our ancestors’ most important foods.

 

plant BlkSage

Black Sage (Salvia mellifera)

The seeds can be eaten raw or parched. The leaves were used to treat asthma and congestion.

 

plant BlkWalnut

Black Walnut (Juglans californica)

The seeds can be eaten. 
The shell can be used to make a very dark brown dye.

plant BlkBerry

Blackberry (Rubus vitifolius)

Its berries are sweet and eaten raw, cooked, or dried.

plant CAWildRose

California Wild Rose (Rosa californica)

The seedpods (called rose hips) can be brewed into a tea high in Vitamin C.

plant Cattail

Cattail (Xanthium strumarium)

Cattail roots, pollen, and green seedpods are edible
when properly prepared.

plant Ceda

Cedar (Calocedrus sp.)

Cedar bark was stripped from dead trees and used to make Cedar bark houses (‘éesatal kíicha).

 

plant Chia

Chia (Salvia columbariae)

Chia is an important food source for our ancestors.  Its highly nutritious seeds can be eaten raw, parched, or ground into a paste.  The dry seeds can also be safely stored for a long time.

plant Cholla

Cholla (Cylindropuntia sp.)

Cholla is known for its ability to heal burns. When prepared correctly, it helps reduce scarring and promotes rapid healing.

plant CottonWood

Cottonwood (Populus fremontii)

The wood of the cottonwood tree was used to make paddles, cradleboards, and canoes.

 

plant CoulterPine

Coulter Pine (Pinus coulteri)

The Coulter Pine produces a very large cone with edible seeds. The shell of the seeds, which is very hard, can be used for making necklaces and ornaments.

plant Deergrass

Deergrass (Muhlenbergia rigens)

Deergrass, which grows in tufts, is one of the plants used to make baskets in Southern California.

plant Dogbane

Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum)

Dogbane or “Indian Hemp” is mostly known for the durable fiber that comes from the outer bark of dormant plants. The fiber can be spun into fine threads, cordage or rope.  Dogbane leaves and sap are extremely poisonous, especially when the plant is green, so inexperienced gatherers should not attempt to harvest or process any part of it.

 

plant Elderberry

Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana)

Elderberry trees are very important because they are extremely versatile.  Every part of the tree – the wood, roots, bark, leaves, flowers, and berries – is useful for a variety of purposes.

plant HollyLeafCherry

Holly Leaf Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia)

This native cherry was an important source of food.

plant Juncus

Juncus (Juncus acutus)

Juncus is one of the major materials used for weaving baskets. It is also be used to make mats.

 

plant LiveOak

Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia)

The Live Oak grows abundantly along the coastal and interior regions of Luiseño Territory. Although Live Oaks do not produce the highest quality acorns, they are still edible and were eaten when there were shortages of Black Oak and White Oak acorns.

plant Manzanita

Manzanita (Arctostaphylos sp.)

The fruit of the Manzanita is sometimes eaten, and some people make cider or jelly from the berries. The Big Berry Manzanita produces a hard seed that is used for beads or inside rattles. The wood is very hard and difficult to work with, but it can be used for making tools such as awls and knife handles.

 

plant MinersLettuce

Miner’s Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata)

Collected in February and March, Miner’s Lettuce is eaten raw and can be used to make or enhance salads. It is also sometimes used in soups or stews.

plant MulesFat

Mule’s Fat (Baccharis salicifolia)

Mule’s Fat produces straight stems that can be utilized as arrow shafts. Its stems can also be hollowed out and used as pipe stems.

plant PricklyPearCactus

Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia phaeacantha)

The Prickly Pear cactus pads and fruit are both edible.

plant RedWillow

Red Willow (Salix laevigata)

Red Willow is common throughout California and has many uses. We use various parts of the willow tree in basket-weaving, rope-making, sandals, clothing, medicine, fuel, and house building.

 

plant SourBerry

Sumac or Sour Berry (Rhus trilobata)

Sumac is one of the major sources of basket weaving material for many Southern California tribes.  The plant also produces an edible berry.

plant Tobacco

Tobacco

Tobacco leaves were dried and smoked in pipes.  It was most often used during ceremonies.

plant Tule

Tule (Schoenoplectus acutus)

Tule is a thick reed that grows in streams or lakes. The long cylindrical stalks are used to construct homes, canoes and mats. The young shoots can be eaten.

 

plant WhiteSage

White Sage (Salvia apiana)

White sage is a member of the mint family. The seeds can be eaten raw or roasted just like Chia. The leaves of the White Sage have various medicinal values including aiding the relieving of congestion due to colds, allergies and asthma. The dried leaves are burned for spiritual cleansing.

 

plant WildHyacinth

Wild Hyacinth or Indian Potato (Brodiaea pulchella)

The Wild Hyacinth produces a small bulb which is harvested for food. The bulb is boiled until soft and can be mashed or eaten whole. Amateur gatherers should not harvest wild hyacinths since they are easily mistaken for a highly poisonous plant known as a death-camas.

plant WildOnion

Wild Onion (Allium sp.)

Wild onions can be found throughout Luiseño Territory. Only the green stems are harvested, and they are used as a garnish in cooking or eaten alone.

plant YerbaMansa

Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)

Yerba Mansa leaves and roots have medicinal qualities. Tea from the roots was used to treat kidney problems or applied to the skin to cure fungal infections.

plant YerbaSanta

Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon crassifolium)

Yerba Santa is an important medicinal plant. The leaves  were boiled to make a tea used in the treatment of colds and other respiratory infections.

plant Yucca

Yucca (Yucca sp.)

The many species of yucca that grow throughout Southern California are extremely important to Native people.  Every part of these plants is useful.  The young stalks, flowers, and fruit are edible.  The leaves can be processed into fiber, which is used to make sandals, skirts, string, rope, brushes, mats, and basket starts.  The sharp tips of the leaves can be used as needles.

 

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Traditional Summer Youth Program

The Pechanga youth, ages 12 through 17, has developed a Traditional Knowledge Summer Youth Program. The program aims to establish an infrastructure where knowledge and skills are passed on as it was done long ago. The program is currently in their tenth year.

The major objective of the program is to introduce students to the traditional life ways and skills of the Luiseño People. Some of these include:

SummerYouthProgram400x400

  • making arrowheads and arrows
  • basket weaving
  • pottery
  • cordage
  • tule canoes
  • willow
  • tule houses
  • traditional games

Familiarity with traditional foods, such as acorn mush, cherry pit mush, pine nut soup, yucca and Indian potato, is also a major component of the program.

One of the program's objectives is to arm those youth who complete the program with the skills and knowledge they need to become teachers and administrators of the program.

 

More Articles ...

  1. Traditional Sites
  2. Traditional Foods
  3. Chámmakilawish Pechanga School
  4. The Nursery

Subcategories

Customs and Traditions