For the first time in 300 years, acorns will be harvested at scale in the Bay Area. This is not a reenactment. This is real work, feeding real people, and restoring a food system stolen by colonization.
If you have been waiting for a way to do something that matters, this is it.
A Historic Challenge
You know you want to do more than watch from the sidelines. You know you should be part of this. The Acorn Harvest is your chance to show up and help bring back Indigenous foodways.
This is not about sending money and hoping it lands in the right place. This is about using your own hands to gather food that sustained Native people for millennia and will again.
Why It Matters
Every acorn you help collect is a tangible benefit to tribal communities. Every bucket strengthens sovereignty, food security, and cultural survival. The harvest is more than ceremony. It is sustenance, reciprocity, and history in motion.
And it only happens if people like you step up.
Do Not Miss This
Harvest meetings start next week. Only people who are signed up will get the details. If you are not on the list, you will not be part of this season’s work.
Many well-meaning allies want to stand with Indigenous people but struggle to know where their support should go. Some organizations present themselves as “tribes” when they are actually nonprofits or corporations, and the difference is often unclear to the public. This confusion can leave allies uncertain, hesitant, or worried about making the wrong choice.
Nations vs. Nonprofits: How Well-Meaning Allies Can Tell the Difference is a live online presentation designed to answer those questions. Together we will explore:
What the word “tribe” really means, including its colonial baggage and its current legal meaning.
How sovereign Native nations differ from cultural groups, nonprofits, or incorporated organizations.
Case studies where corporations claimed to be tribes, and what happened when they were exposed.
Clear red flags and a practical checklist you can use to evaluate organizations that ask for your support.
This seminar will help you gain confidence in understanding the difference between Indigenous nations and nonprofits, so you can make informed decisions about where to place your energy, trust, and resources.
If you are committed to Indigenous justice, reparative giving, or building respectful partnerships, this presentation offers a vital foundation. You will leave with tools, knowledge, and clarity that empower you to support Native communities with confidence and care.
What we cover
Intro
What You’ll Learn today
Alameda Native History Project
What is a “Tribe”?
Federal Tribal Recognition
State Tribal Recognition
Resolutions vs Recognition
Unrecognized Tribes
Tribal Corporations
Corporations Are Not Tribes
Confederations, Federations, and Unions
Case Studies
1: Cherokee Nation Impersonation
2: Kaweah Nation Fraud and Conviction
Q&A
Sources & References
Why it matters
Tribes are sovereign governments. Corporations are tools of those governments, not replacements. Unrecognized does not mean fake; real communities can show continuity, descent, and governance. Understanding the difference protects Indigenous identity and public trust.
Who should attend
Allies; funders and fiscal sponsors; nonprofit and agency staff; educators; reporters and editors; anyone responsible for partnerships, grants, or public statements.
What you will leave with
Handout: Red Flags for Allies A quick reference to help you recognize the signs.
Handout: Checklist for Allies 5 Things to Look For when considering partnership, consultation, or support.
Practical language to decline risky partnerships. 5 sample declination letters with clear reasons and a standard disclaimer to CYA.
Presented by
Alameda Native History Project. Founded and run by Gabriel Duncan. Our work centers tangible Tribal benefit, accurate representation, and the reopening of Indigenous foodways.
This piece began as a reply to a high school student in Lafayette who reached out with questions about Native history in the Bay Area. They asked about Mount Diablo, about colonization and displacement, and about what comes after land acknowledgments. Their questions are not unique. They reflect the concerns of a generation that wants clarity and truth, not half-answers or empty gestures.
I decided to share my response here because the history of this land, and the responsibility of carrying it forward, belongs to all of us. What follows is both history and perspective, part academic and part personal, written as a letter to one student and now as a message to many.
The Letter
Dear […],
Thanks for reaching out.
Sorry about the delay in getting back. I was out of town taking part in the Pine Nut Dance with my Tribe in Bishop, Ca.
Here are the answers to your questions. I tried to keep it as short as possible. I know it’s a lot. So I added the Key Take-Aways for you at the top of the Local History section.
Also, I go between an academic voice and saying things like “we” or “us” because I’m speaking personally as a California Indigenous Person.
—
The name for Mt. Diablo is Tuyshtak in Chochenyo (an Ohlone dialect spoken in the East Bay), meaning “at the dawn of time”. I found this link, it’s pretty legit–from Museum of San Ramon Valley: https://museumsrv.org/mount-diablo-a-sacred-mountain/
Local History:
Key Take-Aways:
Indigenous people have lived in the Bay Area for over 10,000 years. The Bay itself was once a valley with a river before it filled with water.
Spanish colonization brought missions, soldiers, and livestock that destroyed Native food systems. Resistance was met with massacres and forced captivity.
The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe trace their ancestry to people taken into Mission Dolores, Santa Clara, and San Jose. They were forced to abandon language and traditions, though some received Mexican land grants after secularization.
Under U.S. rule, violence escalated into open genocide. California’s first governor even called for extermination of Native people.
California tribes signed 18 treaties in 1851–52, including Ohlone/Costanoan people, but Congress never ratified them. That allowed land theft without honoring promises.
The Verona Band of Alameda County (Muwekma’s ancestors) was federally recognized in 1906 but stripped of recognition in 1927 by bureaucratic action.
Despite all this, Ohlone people never left. Today they are organized as the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area and continue to fight for federal recognition, language revitalization, and protection of their sacred sites.
Before Spain
Starts many years ago, like 10,000+ years. The San Francisco Bay wasn’t always a full body of water. By most Indigenous Accounts, it was a trickle, like a river, in the middle of a large valley that later filled in and became the San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, and Suisun Bay. [https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/museum/events/shortcourse2002/doris.htm ; see slide “Valley of San Francisco Bay during the last Ice Age”] Before the Portola Expedition in 1769, more than 10,000 Indigenous people lived along the coast from Big Sur to San Francisco.
Spanish Period
Once Spanish military and religious fanatics arrived, that quickly changed. Presidios and Missions were two separate systems. This is repetitive, but Presidios were Military and Missions were religious — and there were actual villages that the presidio protected as well.
Many people point to death by disease as one of the most impactful negative events which happened to Indigenous People in the Bay Area. However, it was not the only, and the displacement and large-scale eradication of Indigenous People can be seen today in the hills that surround us. Invasive grasses were brought here by those Spaniards in the guts of the livestock they used to graze the areas around the Missions. This is my opinion, but Livestock was (and still is) the most visible form of colonization, and it represents hundreds of years of displacement and violence against Indigenous People.
Specifically, we (California Indigenous People — I’m a recognized descendant of the Benton Paiute Tribe, a Federally Recognized Tribe in Benton, California) were the targets of Spanish War Campaigns because we objected to these Cows, Sheep, and other Livestock eating our food. For Centuries, we used wild grasses, roots of plants, leaves, flowers, stalks, and all parts of the native flora and fauna of California for our food, medicine, and shelter. We used all of these things. So when these outsiders brought their animals here, and let them eat the things we had carefully tended to, gathered, stored, and depended on for our livelihood…. Of course we had a problem.
When we killed a cow for fouling the places we depended on, Spanish soldiers were sent to kill entire villages. There was never any attempt to share space or to negotiate.
Meanwhile, we were also being abducted and forced into captivity on the Missions. Missions founded in: 1776 – Mission Dolores; 1777 – Mission Santa Clara; 1797 – Mission San Jose. [Mind you, the United States of America was founded in 1776 on the East Coast of this continent at the same time Mission Dolores was being founded.]
At some point, this area had been so heavily invaded by Missionaries, Soldiers, and Spanish People (in general) that the Indigenous People of the Bay Area were pushed out of their homes, their food was destroyed, or being taken by force. Indigenous People had little choice but to run, or join the Mission System in the hope that they would not starve to death, or be killed as an enemy of these people.
Muwekma Ohlone Roots
The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area traces their lineage back to the Missions listed above. Using the baptismal records of the Missions, they have noted that one of the first baptisms of their ancestors occurred in 1801, Liberato Culpecse. Indigenous People were forced to abandon their language, traditions, religious practices, and embrace the Spanish lifestyle and belief systems–or face punishment including death.
Spain “controlled” California until 1821, when Mexico secured its independence, and then began to secularize (basically “close”) the missions from 1833-1836. This began was was widely referred to as the Rancho Period, where Mexican citizens were given land through “Land Grants” and were allowed to grow food and tend to livestock. In the 1840’s, Mexican land grants were given to several “Careños”–Mission Santa Clara “Indians”. [Indigenous people who were in the missions are still referred to as “Mission Indians” for some strange reason.]
Please note that this is 50 years after the founding of the missions, which is roughly 2 generations–and that the Indigenous People who left to join or were taken into the mission system were all younger children or women, because men and teens were seen as enemies and potential combatants and killed. This is all to explain how easily Indigenous People “blended in” and fell into ranching and receiving land grants. Many times people will say “they did such a great job at blending in” but there was no one left who remembered the old ways. And this is important to explain how, in current times, it is so important that the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area is speaking and teaching their language (Chochenyo is one dialect) and practicing their traditions.
When the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in 1848, that officially ended the Mexican-American War and transferred California into the control the US. Two years later (1850) California was admitted to the Union as the 31st state.
American Genocide
Unlike the Spanish, who would rather convert Indigenous people into their subjects who provided free labor; and the Mexican government, which had granted us forms of citizenship, and even land…. Americans hated “Indians”, and made it their business to kill us all. Literally. There is no sugar coating this section of American history and it’s honestly really upsetting to describe the amount of “Punitive Expeditions” and incredible violence perpetrated against women and children. As I get older, it actually hurts more because I can better understand the profound loss and horror that we endured. This was the time of our Great Grandparents. So these aren’t just stories in textbooks for us. They’re the actual stories of what happened to our own family. So maybe I won’t go deeper into this except to say that the first Governor of California called for a War of Extermination against Native Americans. [https://www.aclunc.org/sites/goldchains/explore/peter-burnett.html]
Treaties of 1851 and 1852
Between 1851 and 1852, California tribes were forced to sign 18 Treaties, ceding their ancestral homelands in exchange for reservation land and promises by the US Government. Costanoans, the first name for Ohlone people, signed one of these treaties. However, these treaties were never ratified, and therefore the government was able to take our land and never have to deliver on their promises.
*Between 1855 and 1940 Native Americans were kept track of, and recorded in the Indian Census Rolls [https://www.archives.gov/research/census/native-americans/1885-1940.html] The descendants of those “Mission Indians” from Mission San Jose (primarily) continued to live in and around Fremont, Sunol, Niles, Pleasanton [“Lisjan” in Nisenan language], and were known as the Verona Band of Alameda County.
1906-1927 Federal Recognition
In 1906 these treaties were “re-discovered”, the Verona Band of Alameda County was confirmed as a Costanoan signatory to the treaties. And money was appropriated to purchase land for their use. However it was not enough money. When the matter came up again in 1927, the “Indian commissioner” for the Sacramento Indian Agency was told to make a list of tribes that still needed land. However, the commissioner instead dropped 134 tribes from the California Indian Rolls, instead of reporting that these tribes still needed land. Because the names of those tribes were not included in that list, it had the effect of stripping them of Federal Recognition. This is how Ohlone people in the bay area (now, the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area) became a “landless tribe”.
Ohlone People Never Left
Despite all of this, Ohlone people never left this area. They never ceased being related by blood, familial ties, or their culture. Today, the Ohlone tribe is known as the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area. Even though the federal government still refuses to acknowledge them, they are the descendants of the people enslaved in the Missions San Jose de Guadalupe, Santa Clara de Thamien, and San Francisco de Asis. They have an elected Chairwoman, Charlene Nijmeh; Vice Chairwoman Monica Arellano. The Ohlone Community College was named by Felipe “Phil” Galvan, a recent Muwekma Ancestor. [https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2013/04/05/mr-ohlone-who-helped-name-fremont-college-dies/] His son, Andrew Galvan formed the Ohlone Tribe, Inc. to accept the Ohlone Cemetery from the Catholic Church, at Mission San Jose. [Mentioned in the article.] Chairwoman Nijmeh’s mother, former chairwoman Rosemary Cambra was a vocal and active advocate for her tribe’s lands, and ancestors–she saved the Ohlone Cemetery from destruction by the 680 freeway and even went to jail for defending her ancestors from being destroyed by the construction of a hotel in downtown San Jose. [https://www.sfweekly.com/archives/the-little-tribe-that-could/article_c2a92470-2ed3-5182-8c69-5145d73fe558.html]
Beyond Land Acknowledgments
Ask questions. Curiosity is the beginning of truth.
Do your own research. When you use real, verifiable sources, you can stand tall in what you know.
Do not let older people shut you down just because they are older. Respect is earned through honesty, not age.
Stand strong in the truth you find. It is the ground you will walk forward on.
You are our future leaders, and your voice matters right now. The confidence and truth you carry will shape the world we all live in.
The history of this place is painful, but it is also living. Land acknowledgments are only the start of honoring that truth. What matters now is how you and your generation carry it forward. Ask the questions others are afraid to ask. Learn from real, verifiable sources and trust yourself when you find the truth. Do not let anyone dismiss you because of your age. Your voice matters today, and when you move with confidence in what you know, you are not only honoring those who came before, you are creating the future that all of us will walk into.
Your generation is not waiting for the future. You are already shaping it, and when you carry the truth with confidence you open the path for everyone who comes after you.
Copal Calli and Alameda Native History Project will host the Acorn Fiesta & BBQ on Sunday, Oct. 5, at Frank Raines Park in Del Puerto Canyon.
The event will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. and will feature food, cultural education, and community celebration.
The Acorn Fiesta & BBQ highlights the importance of acorns to California Native Tribes while celebrating the beginning of Harvest Season. Guests will enjoy a welcoming space that combines learning, healing, and friendship in a community-centered setting.
Copal Calli, which empowers the 209 community through education, cultural awareness, leadership, and healing, is partnering with Alameda Native History Project to create this intercultural gathering. Together, the two organizations are bringing people together to celebrate Indigenous foodways and shared traditions.
This is an alcohol and drug free event. Proceeds will be shared equally between Copal Calli and Alameda Native History Project to support cultural preservation, Indigenous foodways, and community education.
The Acorn Fiesta & BBQ may also include a brief acorn harvest session. Attendees interested in participating are encouraged to arrive early.
The Alameda Native History Project invites you to roll up your sleeves and be part of something historic.
This September, we are coming together to build the specialized tools and equipment that will make the Second Annual Acorn Harvest possible. Whether you are new to our work or a returning volunteer, these Build Days are a chance to contribute directly to reopening Indigenous foodways in the Bay Area.
Saturday, Sept. 6 : Prep Day (Starts at 10 a.m.)
Our first Build Day is focused on preparing equipment for final assembly. Volunteers will be drilling, cutting, sanding, gluing, painting, and shaping metal mesh.
Because of the sharp tools, spray paint, and detail work involved, this session is best for adults who feel comfortable and experienced with hands-on tasks such as drilling, cutting, or painting.
If you have your own gloves, safety goggles, or respirator, please bring them. Space is limited, so Register for Sept. 6.
Saturday, Sept. 13 : Main Build Day (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
This is our big community gathering. Together, we will assemble the tools we will use to harvest and store acorns during the Second Annual Acorn Harvest. It is a clean and sober event, open to all, with jobs suited for every comfort level.
Even though registration is free, you can choose to “pay what you want” to help cover equipment, rental fees, snacks, gloves, and other volunteer care. Register for Sept. 13
Why It Matters
Acorn foods sustained Indigenous people here for millennia, and harvesting them with care is both cultural practice and ecological stewardship. Our protocols are rooted in Traditional Ecological Knowledge: take only what the trees freely give, give back in return, and ensure all flourishing is mutual.
This work is more than building buckets and tenders. It is about restoring an Indigenous food system that has not operated at scale in 300 years. California law recognizes the importance of protecting Native cultural practices, and the United Nations affirms Indigenous peoples’ rights to maintain their foodways and cultural traditions. Here in Alameda, the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe has voiced support for our work to restore acorn harvesting as a tangible tribal benefit.
By joining us, you are helping to create equipment that will feed community, honor sovereignty, and keep Indigenous traditions alive.
On Sundays, August 17 and August 31, the Alameda Native History Project will host Acorn Harvest Training, a hands-on, field-based workshop rooted in Indigenous tradition and ecological stewardship.
Participants will learn to identify local oaks, distinguish between red and white oak by leaf shape, bark, and acorn characteristics, and understand the significance of mast years in acorn production. We will explore how acorns nourish entire ecosystems, not just people, and why respectful harvesting ensures that “all flourishing is mutual.”
This training is grounded in the Honorable Harvest, a principle passed through generations:
Take only what is freely given.
Never take more than you need.
Give thanks, and give back.
Our harvesting protocol reflects these values. We use low-impact wooden acorn tenders, tapping branches lightly. No climbing, pruning, or mechanical shakers. Only acorns released by gentle taps or natural fall are gathered, and our collective harvest is capped at less than 15 percent of the seasonal crop, well below ecologically safe limits. Viable acorns we do not keep are buried nearby, replenishing the seed bank and echoing the work of squirrels that help oak forests regenerate.
These sessions are not about extraction. They are about building a respectful, living relationship with the land. The work is grounded in Traditional Ecological Knowledge and supported by the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, which recognizes the importance of restoring Indigenous foodways as a living practice of cultural sovereignty and environmental stewardship.
People who signed up for the Indigenous Land Lab and the Acorn Harvest using our volunteer form received text messages with exclusive offers for free tickets. If you would like to join us on the harvest, and receive exclusive offers and special invitations such as private willow harvests and other events at the Indigenous Land Lab, sign up at https://nativehistoryproject.org/volunteer.
Space is limited for each session to ensure a meaningful and safe learning environment.
There we were, in the middle of a field on a hot, sunny, day, in Castro Valley. Today is the Willow Harvest. We’re gathering willow and bay leaf for Granary Construction at Centerville Library.
People always think gathering willow is the first step. The first step is really opening yourself up to this tree, to greet it and give thanks and your own offering. To stay focused on your intent, the reason why you’re here, and hope your ancestors will help guide you.
Reopening Indigenous Foodways is like removing dams. It’s like reseeding meadows with native grasses. Stewarding land in a reciprocal cycle of never ending gifts. Of salmon. Ancient grains. Acorns. Berries. Rooreh.
Acorn Granaries are traditional storage devices made using the natural materials. Acorns are placed in sacks, in granaries and stored over winter.
But first, you need to meet this willow tree, give it offerings, and ask it to let you gather some of it’s wonderful reeds for your acorn basket.
Than, once you’ve gathered and cleaned the willow, you use the poles, sticks, and reeds to build the granary.
Once the willow was gathered, we packed the truck and walked farther in, towards the Land Lab, to gather bay leaf from the bay trees.
We use the bay leaf as integrated pest management. To keep the bugs out of the acorns, and keep them from eating the granary itself.
Standing under the Bay Laurel, you can smell the eucalyptol in the leaves. Where we stripped the willow of its leaves to use its reeds; the leaves are what we need from the Bay Laurel tree. They will be woven in and out of the willow frame of the Acorn Granary.
After gathering the materials for the granary, we gathered in the shade of an oak tree. Enjoying the rest, and taking the opportunity to get to know each other more.
Strangers in the beginning, they brought food to share. Avocados. Chips. Dip Sandwiches. Snacks. Water.
We were supposed to end at 12pm, but we ended up parting ways around 2pm. The willow and bay leaf were delivered to the construction site. Willow soaked in water.
In two days, we would build an acorn granary at the Mini Acorn Festival.
We’re reconnecting with land, deepening relationships, and bringing more people into that process. The Alameda Native History Project is expanding its reach, partnering with libraries and organizations across Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara counties to support land-based learning and reopen Indigenous foodways that have been silenced, but never lost.
If you would like to partner with us, please take a minute to read and understand the Working With Us page before reaching out.
We are excited to be working with all of our new partners around the San Francisco Bay Area. And we look forward to announcing more events as we get further in to the harvest season.
Library Partnerships That Build More Than Granaries
This month, we’re collaborating with the Alameda County Library on two public events that center Indigenous knowledge and invite families, elders, and young people into relationship with the land.
On August 9, we’ll be at Centerville Library for the Acorn Mini Festival, a family-friendly gathering that includes crafts, games, and granary building. Participants will learn about acorns and oak trees while engaging in activities that reflect generations of care and connection. Acorns are the most important food stock for California Indigenous people. They’re a gift from the oaks, and they feed the land, the animals, and us.
Then on August 27, we’ll be at San Lorenzo Library to lead a hands-on Acorn Granary Workshop, where participants will help construct a traditional storage structure. These granaries are part of a food system that sustained Indigenous people through the winter and protected what the land had given. We’ll also share about harvesting practices, oak identification, and what it means to be part of this cycle today. A follow-up acorn processing workshop will take place in the fall.
Public institutions have a responsibility to support cultural visibility. These library partnerships are an example of what it looks like when that responsibility is taken seriously.
Willow Harvests
This work is grounded in Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Every willow reed we gather, every acorn we collect, comes from a relationship. These aren’t activities designed for show. They’re teachings that carry responsibilities.
On August 7, we’ll hold an invitation-only Willow Harvest at the Indigenous Land Lab, a protected area with no cell service, no pavement, and no spectators. Everything we bring in, we carry. Everything we take, we give back for. This harvest is about learning through presence and care, not documentation.
Use the Volunteer Signup Form and check the box for “Indigenous Land Lab” to get early and exclusive invites to events like the Willow Harvest, Pine Bough Gathering, Berry Picking, or More.
On August 24, we’ll host a public Willow Harvest for people who are ready to engage with seasonal cycles and learn the protocols that come with them. These reeds will be used to build future granaries.
We’re holding an Acorn Harvest Training on August 17 in Alameda. We’ll cover identification of red and white oak species, how to read the land for timing, and how to harvest without harm. We teach what the Honorable Harvest requires: you take only what’s given. You use everything you take. You care for what feeds you. You give back.
This isn’t about reviving lost traditions. It’s about repairing relationships that were interrupted. And healing ourselves.
Reopening Indigenous foodways means returning to ways of being that are grounded in reciprocity, intention, and care. Returning to wellbeing by turning away from over-processed sugars and engineered fats that our bodies were not intended to eat, and which do not fulfill our most basic nutritional needs.
The work is Indigenously-led and Tribally-aligned. It’s built to last, shaped by those who hold cultural memory and who live in relationship with the land. It’s not a trend. It’s a commitment.
And we are inviting you to join us in these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to take part in traditional California Indigenous activities in a respectful and appropriate way, while providing a tangible tribal benefit to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area.
How to Get Involved
We’ve launched a new sign-up form to help grow our regional network of volunteers and supporters. If you’ve attended a past event or want to be invited to upcoming harvests, teachings, and builds, we invite you to sign up and stay connected.
Alameda Native History Project is a fiscally sponsored organization. All donations are tax deductible.
Your donation will help us reopen Indigenous foodways, and produce culturally relevant, nutritious, traditional food–at scale–for the first time in over 300 years.
Where your funds go:
Safety Equipment & Supplies We provide a safe platform to reopen Indigenous foodways
Heat Safety
First Aid
Shade Structures
Volunteer Care Essentials for Outdoor Work, honestly viewed as another part of “Safety”
Hydration (Water + Electrolytes)
Protein Bars and Energy Chews
Rest area supplies (Folding chairs, Cooling towels)
The Second Annual Acorn Harvest begins in August. This year, we will be gathering Acorns outside of the City of Alameda, into Alameda County, and beyond.
The reason for this is two-fold.
The first, almost all of the Oak trees in the City of Alameda are exclusively Coast Live Oak. These trees are in the Red Oak family.
The second, is that we have new partnerships and collaborations sprouting throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Red Oak Family? Why does this even matter?
Red Oak Trees have a two year acorn cycle. Meaning, the acorns take two years to grow and mature. In the context of the Acorn Harvest, this means no mature acorns will be available in Alameda until 2026–two years from our first harvest in 2024.
Oh… So which Oak Trees are going to have acorns, then?
This is actually great as far as the harvest goes. Because we’ll be hunting some of the most tasty acorns available. White Oak Acorns have relatively low tannic content compared to the Coast Live Oak acorns we had in abundance last year.
If you attended any of our Acorn Processing Workshops, Acorn Flour Production Days, or any of our Acorns! Culinary Series events, then you had the opportunity to taste these acorns in their various states of processing.
As an aside: One of our long-term goal is to produce blends of acorn flour for both taste and function. So being able to introduce you to these different varieties of Acorns, to harvest, taste, and cook with, is big plus in and of itself.
How do you find these White Oak trees?
We’re using a mix of GIS Analysis and In-Person Verification. Using Open Source Data we found through the California Oaks website, we were able to access several raster layers of relevant data, and then convert them into vector form we could overlay onto our own custom made maps to accurately target areas were would could find the oak trees we need.
Our next step was to find, identify, and surveil these trees in our area of interest; and to keep a running log of acorn ripeness to help time acorn harvest dates that we (hopefully) can communicate to our dedicate harvest volunteers with advance notice.
That’s all great; but how can I help?
We’re so glad you asked!
We want to find property owners/land managers who have oak trees that currently have ripening acorns.
We can describe this to you more in depth, but tl;dr the acorns need to be big, and not tiny little buds.
We want to find people who are willing to surveil the acorns in their area.
We need to start building teams, and training people to harvest acorns.
We’re looking for donations of LARGE BACKPACKS, HUGE RUCKSACKS, BACKPACKING BAGS, etc.
We’re also looking to raise the funds to properly hydrate and ensure the safety of our Harvest Teams.
Join Us for the 2025 Acorn Granary Challenge in Alameda
This summer, the Alameda Native History Project invites you to be part of something powerful, rooted, and real: the 2025 Acorn Granary Challenge.
We are building a traditional Acorn Granary using natural materials and Indigenous knowledge, right here in Alameda at APC’s Farm2Market. This is not just a construction project. It is a challenge to remember that survival has always been a collective effort, and that resilience is built in community.
Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime, hands-on experience where we work side by side to bring this granary to life, honor traditional practices, and make a tangible contribution to the restoration of Indigenous Foodways.
What We’re Building
Acorn Granaries are traditional Native American storage structures used to safely hold acorns over winter after the fall harvest. These granaries have been used for thousands of years. They are designed to protect acorns from rain, snow, and pests, while keeping them accessible as a vital food source.
The structure we are building will be a symbol of cultural resilience and a critical part of our plan to reintroduce acorn flour at scale for the first time in 300 years.
Event Details
2025 Acorn Granary Challenge Dates: Sunday, July 13 and Sunday, July 20 Time: 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Location: APC Farm2Market, 2600 Barbers Point Rd, Alameda, CA 94501 Cost: Free and open to all (all ages welcome with adult supervision) Registration:events.humanitix.com/alameda-acorn-granary-challenge
This is a clean and sober event. Please do not come under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Also: you don’t have to be Native to kick it, but please respect this Indigenous Space you are being invited into.
What to Expect
Session 1 (July 13):
Learn about working with willow
Begin constructing the Acorn Granary
Discover traditional Indigenous pest management using bay leaves
Session 2 (July 20):
Add finishing touches and install the granary
Option to weave pine boughs to protect the structure from rain
No experience necessary. Just bring your full self, your willingness to contribute, and your respect for the Indigenous space you are being invited into.
Why It Matters
This granary is more than a structure. It is a step toward healing. By rebuilding these food systems, we are reclaiming a legacy interrupted by colonization. The acorns stored in this granary will become part of California’s first large-scale Indigenous acorn flour production in three centuries. That flour will be offered to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area as a tangible tribal benefit.
Your participation helps move us closer to a future where Indigenous food sovereignty is not just a concept. It is alive, growing, and thriving in our communities.
Be Part of the Movement
We are reopening Indigenous Foodways. Come help us build something sacred, and be part of something that lasts.
