Southern Paiute Winnowing Tray Activity

Activity: Making and Using a Winnowing Tray

Materials needed:

• wire screening
• one willow or four wood slats
• string
• beans

Procedures:

1. To make a winnowing tray, make a square frame of 18 inches wide x 18 inches long and 1 inch deep from wood slats. Staple or nail a piece of wire screen to the bottom of the frame.
   (If available a medium-sized ditch willow could be shaped into an oval for the frame. Soak the willow in hot water, gather the ends together making a tear dropped shaped frame. Bind the ends together with string and lace a wire screen of the same size and shape to the frame.)
2. To practice winnowing, place two handfuls of beans in the center of the tray. Gently toss the beans into the air about two inches high. Catch the beans in the middle of the tray.