California Indians have lived here for thousands of years. One local tribe is the Wintu, who lived off the abundant natural resources in the area. Their way of life changed dramatically in 1848 when gold was discovered. Miners and settlers occupied Wintu lands, and lawmakers and newspapers called for their removal and even extermination. “Hydrauliking” fouled the clear streams with mining debris, leading to the disappearance of important food sources such as salmon. In 1851, a treaty establishing a 35 square-mile reservation for the Wintu was signed at Reading’s Ranch, but the United States Congress refused to ratify it and 17 other treaties, leaving many Native people homeless. In spite of all this, the Wintu survived, and many continue to live in their traditional homeland. Monitoring archaeological sites such as Shasta helps preserve their heritage.