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Food

The Maidu had a variety of food choices because their lands covered three regions - valley bottom, foothills, and upper Sierras. Trade between these groups allowed the following foods to be available:

Salmon from larger streams in the valley and foothills, the lamprey eel that were fat and succulent, and in the higher mountains, trout.

Insects, worms, larva and fresh-water mussels.

Deer, elk, bear, rabbits.

Ducks, geese, pigeons, quail, and crows.

Acorns, dried seeds, pine nuts.

Foods that were forbidden to Maidu - but not necessarily in all locations - included grizzly bear, dog, wolf, coyote, vultures, reptiles and amphibians.

· Write a story that offers an explanation why a certain food was forbidden to the Maidu. Usually the reasons can include that it is poisonous - by how did it get that way ? Or that the animal is a distant relative - but how did this happen ? Or make up a version of your own.