Washoe Tribe

\”Our elders tell we have been here in the beginning, and we are still here in our lands.\”

As the Wašiw creation story goes, the people were brought to their homeland surrounding Lake Tahoe by Gewe. (the coyote) and told that this is the place the Wašiw people were meant to be by Nentašu. Nentašu

then told all of the plants, medicines and animals of this place to grow strong in order to provide nourishment for the Wašiw and she reminded the people of their responsibility to care for this place, (one of several creation stories).

“The center of the Wašiw world is Da.aw (Lake Tahoe) both geographically and spiritually.\” Like most native peoples our lifestyles revolved around the environment; the people were part of the environment, and everything was provided by the environment.

\”The health of the land and the health of the people are tied together, and what happens to the land also happens to the people. When the land suffers so too are the people.\”

— A. Brian Wallace, Former Chairman