Paths of Life

Seri: A Changing Way of Life

Yet they could not survive without the resources that the desert provided. The Seri have names and uses for over 400 plants that provided food, medicine, and tools.

Their knowledge of the plants and animals of the sea is just as extensive. They distinguish fourteen types of sea turtles, more than modern zoologists. Generations of Seri fishers have learned about the countless species of fish that formed an important part of their diet. In addition to this knowledge, they have spiritual attachments to these plants and animals that reflect their values and place in this world.

Today, the Seri no longer hunt and gather the bulk of their food. Yet, the land and sea still provide a living. Commercial fishing and sales of handmade baskets and seashell necklaces keep the Seri in close touch with their dual world of desert and sea.