This Saturday, the Stewart Indian School will be hosting a Cooking with Currant Berries jam course, co-taught by the school’s Curator of Education Melanie Smokey and Master Gardener Kay Remington.
The class will take place Saturday, July 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum inside the Education Classroom.
Students will visit the golden currant bushes in the school’s garden, will learn how to find and identify currant berries in the wild. They’ll also learn the names and pronunciations of the plant and berries in our local native languages.
Then, students will participate in a hands-on jam class, and will be able to go home with a sweet treat!
Last time a cooking and foraging class was held at Stewart Indian School, it sold out almost immediately, so get your tickets while you can! The cost is $25, reserve your spot by emailing msmokey@dnaa.nv.gov or call (775) 687 7611.
All about Golden Currants
The Golden Currant (Ribes aureum) or nanholwaɁ in the Washoe language is a species of wild currant native to Nevada, and has been a diet staple for the Washoe, Paiute and Western Shoshone for generations.
The fruit of the currant bush can be eaten fresh from the planet, or dried for later use, and some tribes used the inner bark the plant to make a poultice for treating its and sores.
The shrub grows yellow flowers with a spicy scent that are a favorite among hummingbirds.
Learn more about the Golden Currant here.
Want to learn more about our native plants and their traditional names? Check out the Washoe Tribe’s plant book below!
Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum is located at 1 Jacobsen Way in Carson City.
