Long before settlers and ranchers came to Sierra Valley, native people of the Washoe and Maidu tribes hunted deer and collected plants here, perhaps on the very spot you are standing. The Washoe traveled fro the east, over Beckwourth Pass, from their villages at Lake Tahoe. The Maidu came from the west, from places near Quincy and Greenville. Sometimes both groups were in the valley at the same time - not always with pleasant results. The modern Washoe and Maidu still tell stories about their clashes with each other.
5,000 Years Ago
Archaeologists have learned that people have lived in Sierra Valley for at least 5,000 years! Why did they come? Two reasons: water and food. Sierra Valley, with its many springs, creeks, and artesian wells, has always been a good source of fresh water. This water attracted deer, rabbits, birds, fish, and other wildlife that the people hunted. Water also allowed a wide variety of food and medicine plants to grow here.
The Washoe word for the Beckwourth area - do? Ca? kila? am - translates as "medicine-root place."
1,000 Years Ago
Beginning around 1,000 years ago (about the same time as the classic Maya cities in Mexico were being abandoned), much of the world was hit by a severe drought. At the same time, human populations were larger than ever. This meant that more people had to compete for less food. One way they adapted was to rely more on foods they hadn't used much before - here in Sierra Valley, that food was camas (also spelled quamash), Brodiaea, and other roots and bulbs.
Camas root (Latin name Camassia), was a staple for many Indian tribes in the Northwest - it was even one of the foods offered to Lewis and Clark on their famous expedition. Only recently have we discovered archaeological evidence that the local tribes used it also.
See how they cooked the camas - look down and follow the footprints. Imagine a time long ago.
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