UKIAH, Calif., 11/7/25 — Acorns were — and still are — an important food source for California’s Native American tribes. On Sunday, Pomo cultural educator Bernadette Smith, an enrolled member of the Manchester-Point Arena Band of Pomo Indians, will demonstrate the traditional process of leaching bitterness from acorns to make them edible.
The program begins at 1:30 p.m. with both a traditional and a contemporary Pomo song and dance, followed by Smith’s talk and demonstration. She will guide visitors through the many steps required to process the nuts, which contain a seedling surrounded by developing seed leaves.
This family-friendly, interactive event will give visitors the chance to try their hands at processing acorns to create a traditional acorn mush — a staple of Native diets for centuries. Guests are invited to drop in anytime during the afternoon to learn more about the cultural and nutritional importance of acorns.
The event takes place Sunday, Nov. 9, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Grace Hudson Museum, 431 S. Main St., Ukiah. Visit https://www.gracehudsonmuseum.org/ for more information.