Petroglyphs

The Washoe Tribe lived on the eastern face of the Sierra Nevada mountains for more than 6,000 years and called themselves the Waashiw, meaning “people from here” in the Washoe language. Their language remained virtually untouched because of the tribe’s isolation from other tribes. The Washoe people were very peaceful, had few enemies, and one of those enemies was the Paiute tribe. They were also very independent and formed their own language. Pine nuts were one of the main food items of the Washoe Tribe. The Washoe had many traditions, including honoring a young boy’s first deer kill with a celebration that marked his entry into manhood and showed he had earned the respect of older men. They were also known for weaving baskets, and a member of the tribe named Datsolalee became famous for her baskets.

California · United States