Title: The Acorn Story

General Information about Item:

• Myth
• Language: English
• Country of Origin: United States
• Informant: MA
• Date Collected: May 20, 2020

Informant Data: MA lives in northern California. She is a part of the Tsnungwe tribe and also Hopi. She is a junior majoring in Native American studies. In addition, she is also planning on applying to grad school. She works with other women in education to work on a curriculum for class for young students. They teach this class based on stories that they have learned over the years.

Contextual Data: Most of the stories that MA knows are through a consultant. This consultant knows many stories from memory and also has recordings of these stories. MA works for an education department. At this education department, they create the language and curriculum. Muriel and the other women of her department teach a class at a summer camp based on the stories that they know. They were trying to compile stories to teach this summer, but unfortunately, covid-19 got in their way. On the other hand, acorns are plentiful in California. They are considered one of their central foods and even known as a piece of their identity. Acorns can be used as a tool in that it teaches children to harvest and eat them. In addition, it teaches them which ones to gather and which ones they should eat.

Item: The acorn story tells about acorns during an earlier time. Since acorns have caps on them, individuals would make hats that would resemble this. The individuals make their caps as beautiful as possible. However, there is this little girl that does not have the time to make her cap as beautiful. She does not have the time since she is always helping her mother and family around the house. Even though her cap is plain and not as beautiful, she is the nicest girl in the community. The connection is made to the fact that this type of acorn is sweeter than the rest.

Informant’s Comments: Acorns are a staple food source for the Tsungwe tribe.  In addition, there are no restrictions of when to tell the story.  The story focuses on the importance of selflessness.  This is why it is important to share to young children.

Collector’s Comments: I felt that this story was interesting. In addition, I felt that this is a heart-warming story since the girl that did her best to help her family was the most well-liked in the community. This story teaches children to focus on important things in life such as family rather than focusing too much on materialistic things.

Collector’s Name: Emily Lipsett

Tags/Keywords: 

• Myth
• Acorns
• Community