Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California Environmental Protection Department 2013 Sierra Water Work Group Summit June 13, Sierra Water Work Group Summit June 13, 2013 Marie Barry, Environmental Program Director

Brief Washoe History  The Washoe Tribe has occupied the Sierra Nevada for thousands of years, with Lake Tahoe as the center of Washoe life and history  Traditional territory and core area encompassed a large portion of the Sierra Nevada

The Environment and Culture  The Washoe belief of the natural and cultural environment are tied to each other and cannot be separated  The Washoe people are tied to the environment. Everything the Washoe needed was provided by the land (food, shelter and clothing)  The Washoe have always been dependent on the environment. They had intimate knowledge of their environment and utilized the resources to the fullest but without depleting the resource

 The Washoe were not just visitors to the land but were part of the environment, just as any terrestrial inhabitants fulfilled a niche so too were the Washoe  When the Washoe were removed from their removed from their environment a lot of their environment a lot of their knowledge, skills and knowledge, skills and abilities were lost, however abilities were lost, however many of the ancient many of the ancient knowledge and practices knowledge and practices still continue today still continue today Environment and Culture continued…

 The Washoe Tribe has always been very concerned with the environment, in the early days of American expansion the Washoe witnessed the depletion and destruction of the environment and made numerous complaints to the Federal Government for the protection of the lands, but they were ignored.  A direct result and effect of the depleted resources resulted in the impoverished life ways of the native people that were dependant upon the environment  To this day the Tribe is involved with many agencies and organizations in the traditional territory for the protection, preservation and management of the Sierra Nevada and its diverse ecosystems  TEK is being used more in land management such as climate change planning Environment and Culture continued…

Water

 Water has always been sacred to the Washoe People  Water is life, not only does it sustain all life but it is a life force  Water is used by Washoe in spiritual, ceremonial and medicinal practices  There are Washoe that bath themselves in the water of Da-ow-aga (Lake Tahoe) before the sun rises as a cleansing and purification of body and spirit after they give prayer to the life sustaining lake Water Continued…

 There are stories associated with water  One story is “Water Baby” a being with powers that may be good or mischievous, depending on how they are encountered. Water Babies live in all the waters in Washoe Country and control water  Washoe stories tell of catastrophic events that occurred eons ago that shaped the landscape and there is scientific evidence that support the stories Water Continued…

Cave Rock  De-ek wadapush (cave rock) is a very powerful place in Washoe culture. It can be seen from almost anywhere at Lake Tahoe. This place sits on the edge of the lake and is a place where other stories emanate from, and are associated with water

Plant Use & Water

Wildlife and Habitat Loss  The Washoe knew the importance for coexistence between people and wildlife. They did not deplete the resources and always left enough to keep the wildlife thriving. As part of the environment, we must protect the wildlife to the best of our ability.  “The Washoe Tribal Seal says it all”

 What is important about fire is its relationship to the environment and water  Fire has been around long before humans and the lands were shaped by fire. Even with the regular fire occurrences, Lake Tahoe had crystal clear waters, it was not until modern uses and practices of the Tahoe Basin did the lake clarity experience drastic changes to water clarity  This is an observation by Washoe tribal members that can still remember the lake the way it was and is scientifically proven Fire’s Roll

 The Washoe used materials from the land and when returned to the land, it left no trace Photo from Wikipedia Based upon the photos; which one of the houses has the most impacts on the environment?

Invasive Plants and Animals  We are seeing more and more invasive species being introduced to the Sierra  Cheat grass has now become another plant community in the environment  Pike in the reservoirs that took years of efforts and thousands of dollars to remove from the ecosystem: that project is being monitored  The Tribe has a Noxious Weed Program to counter the weed problem, and we are working collaboratively with other agencies in a unified attack on weeds  Culturally; the native flora and fauna can not compete with the invasive species and as a result, the use of resources have been limited to areas free of invasive and chemical treatment Marie Barry, Program Director Thank you