- Acorns were the staple food of the Nisenan Indians.
- They could harvest up to 10,000 pounds a year
- They were mashed, leached to remove their bitterness, and then pounded into meal
- The meal was mixed with water to make mush
- Sometimes acorn bread was baked in a pit oven
Seeds
- Seeds such as chia, goldenrod, peppergrass, lupine and sunflower seeds were harvested throughout the year and ground into meal.
- The meal was mixed with water to make mush or baked into seed cakes.
Berries
- Blackberries, elderberries, gooseberries, huckleberries, manzanita berries, serviceberries, strawberries and thimbleberries were collected in season.
- The berries could be eaten fresh, or they could be preserved for later use.
- To preserve them, the berries were dried or juiced.
- The juice was made into a drink called "squaw brew" or "tiswin."
Salmon and other fish
- Salmon was an important food for the Nisenan Indians, but it was not always available.
- Other types of fish consumed included: trout, bass, suckerfish and steelhead.
- The fish were caught using nets or spears, and they could be eaten fresh, dried or smoked.
Meat
- When it was available, meat was also a part of the Nisenan diet.
- Some examples include: deer, elk, bear and rabbit
- Small mammals such as rodents, raccoons and squirrels were also hunted and eaten.
- Meat could be cooked fresh or preserved for later use by smoking, drying or salting.