When white settlers arrived early in the nineteenth century, the Choinumni were already living in this area and, according to their own account, had been here for thousands of years. Before that arrival, fish and game were plentiful, acorns were a staple, other foods were readily available, and life was not difficult. Later, life became difficult. Evidence of their long presence remains in old campsites and mortars, and their ritual areas and sacred burial sites are located throughout the area. Their descendants live here today.