Achejeman

Native American Plant Uses

The Achejeman are native to Orange County California. When the missionaries came, they called them the Jaunenos (the Native Americans associated with the mission of San Juan Capistrano) or Luisenos (the Native Americans associated with the mission of San Luis Rey).

• Coastal Live Oak/Scrub Oak Acorns - The Achejeman ate alot of acorns. After they collected the acorns, they would remove them from their shells. Then they would grind them to a dough consistency using a mortar and pestle type stone and bowl. Then they would dig a hole in sand and line it with leaves. Then they would pour hot water over the acorns. This is called leaching. They did this to remove the tannic acid. They then boiled it by adding some water and some hot rocks, stirring constantly until they had acorn soup.


• Twiggy Wreath - The Achejeman boys would make a wreath of the flowers and present it to a girl they were interested in. If they girl accepted the crown, she accepted the boy. If she rejected the crown, she rejected the boy.


• Prickly Pear Cactus - The fruits were peeled and eaten raw. The pads were cooked and eaten as a vegetable. A study has suggested that Prickly Pear pectin could help with cholesterol though more research is needed.


• Tule - Used to make their homes. The homes were dug two feet deep into the ground for warmth in the winter and cool in the summer.


• Toyon - When the berries turned a bright red around December, the holly berry was harvested, cooked and eaten.


• White sage - Used in religious ceremonies and considered spiritually purifying. It was also dried and burned to purify the home. Hunters rubbed the leaves on their skin to disguise their scent so animals couldn't smell them.


• Sagebrush - Used by the Achejeman to line their food baskets in order to keep insects out.


• Mulefat -


• Stinking Gourd - Gourds were made into maraca-like instruments


• California Buckwheat - It was boiled and the solution was used to relieve the rash of poison oak


• Laurel Sumac - The bark of the roots was boiled and applied as an antiseptic dressing.


• Black willow - The Native Americans chewed on the bark to relieve headaches. They also used willow branches for their huts and willow bark for skirts.


• Elderberry Reeds - Used to make clapper sticks, a musical instrument.

Other - Food

Unlike other Native Americans, the Achejeman did not grow and eat corn. The Achejeman gathered nuts and plants, fished and hunted for their food and medicine.

Other - Insect

• Cochineal - The cochineal insect lives on the Prickly Pear Cactus. The Native Americans used it as a source of red dye. It is a natural red dye that is cultivated today in places like the Canary Islands.