Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California Environmental Protection Department Environmental Protection Department

2013 Sierra Water Work Group Summit2013 Sierra Water Work Group SummitJune 13, 2013June 13, 2013

Marie Barry, Environmental Program DirectorMarie Barry, Environmental Program Director

Brief Washoe History Brief Washoe History The Washoe Tribe The Washoe Tribe

has occupied the has occupied the Sierra Nevada for Sierra Nevada for thousands of years, thousands of years, with Lake Tahoe as with Lake Tahoe as the center of Washoe the center of Washoe life and history life and history

Traditional territory Traditional territory and core area and core area encompassed a large encompassed a large portion of the Sierra portion of the Sierra Nevada Nevada

The Environment and Culture The Environment and Culture The Washoe belief of the natural and cultural The Washoe belief of the natural and cultural

environment are tied to each other and cannot environment are tied to each other and cannot be separated be separated

The Washoe people are tied to the environment. The Washoe people are tied to the environment. Everything the Washoe needed was provided by Everything the Washoe needed was provided by the land (food, shelter and clothing)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 The Washoe were not just visitors to the land but were part of the environment, just as any terrestrial were part of the environment, just as any terrestrial inhabitants fulfilled a niche so too were the Washoe inhabitants fulfilled a niche so too were the Washoe

When the Washoe were When the Washoe were removed from their removed from their environment a lot of theirenvironment a lot of their knowledge, skills and knowledge, skills and abilities were lost, howeverabilities were lost, however many of the ancient many of the ancient knowledge and practicesknowledge and practices still continue today still continue today

Environment and Culture continued…

The Washoe Tribe has always been very concerned with The Washoe Tribe has always been very concerned with the environment, in the early days of American the environment, in the early days of American expansion the Washoe witnessed the depletion and expansion the Washoe witnessed the depletion and destruction of the environment and made numerous destruction of the environment and made numerous complaints to the Federal Government for the protection complaints to the Federal Government for the protection of the lands, but they were ignored.of the lands, but they were ignored.

A direct result and effect of the depleted resources A direct result and effect of the depleted resources resulted in the impoverished life ways of the native resulted in the impoverished life ways of the native people that were dependant upon the environment people that were dependant upon the environment

To this day the Tribe is involved with many agencies and To this day the Tribe is involved with many agencies and organizations in the traditional territory for the protection, organizations in the traditional territory for the protection, preservation and management of the Sierra Nevada and preservation and management of the Sierra Nevada and its diverse ecosystemsits diverse ecosystems

TEK is being used more in land management such as TEK is being used more in land management such as climate change planning climate change planning

Environment and Culture continued…

Water Water

Water has always been sacred to the Water has always been sacred to the Washoe PeopleWashoe People

Water is life, not only does it sustain all life Water is life, not only does it sustain all life but it is a life force but it is a life force

Water is used by Washoe in spiritual, Water is used by Washoe in spiritual, ceremonial and medicinal practicesceremonial and medicinal practices

There are Washoe that bath themselves in There are Washoe that bath themselves in the water of Da-ow-aga (Lake Tahoe) the water of Da-ow-aga (Lake Tahoe) before the sun rises as a cleansing and before the sun rises as a cleansing and purification of body and spirit after they purification of body and spirit after they give prayer to the life sustaining lake give prayer to the life sustaining lake

Water Continued…

There are stories associated with waterThere are stories associated with water One story is “Water Baby” a being with One story is “Water Baby” a being with

powers that may be good or mischievous, powers that may be good or mischievous, depending on how they are encountered. depending on how they are encountered. Water Babies live in all the waters in Water Babies live in all the waters in Washoe Country and control waterWashoe Country and control water

Washoe stories tell of catastrophic events Washoe stories tell of catastrophic events that occurred eons ago that shaped the that occurred eons ago that shaped the landscape and there is scientific evidence landscape and there is scientific evidence that support the stories that support the stories

Water Continued…

Cave RockCave Rock

De-ek wadapush (cave rock) is a very powerful De-ek wadapush (cave rock) is a very powerful place in Washoe culture. It can be seen fromplace in Washoe culture. It can be seen from

almost anywhere at almost anywhere at

Lake Tahoe. This placeLake Tahoe. This place

sits on the edge of thesits on the edge of the

lake and is a place where lake and is a place where

other stories emanateother stories emanate

from, and are associatedfrom, and are associated

with water with water

Plant Use & WaterPlant Use & Water

Wildlife and Habitat LossWildlife and Habitat Loss The Washoe knew the importance for coexistence The Washoe knew the importance for coexistence

between people and wildlife. They did not deplete between people and wildlife. They did not deplete the resources and always left enough to keep the the resources and always left enough to keep the wildlife thriving. As part of the environment, we wildlife thriving. As part of the environment, we must protect the wildlife to the best of our ability. must protect the wildlife to the best of our ability.

““The Washoe Tribal Seal says it all” The Washoe Tribal Seal says it all”

What is important about fire is its relationship to the What is important about fire is its relationship to the environment and waterenvironment and water

Fire has been around long before humans and the lands Fire has been around long before humans and the lands were shaped by fire. Even with the regular fire were shaped by fire. Even with the regular fire occurrences, Lake Tahoe had crystal clear waters, it was occurrences, Lake Tahoe had crystal clear waters, it was not until modern uses and practices of the Tahoe Basin not until modern uses and practices of the Tahoe Basin did the lake clarity experience drastic changes to water did the lake clarity experience drastic changes to water clarity clarity

This is an observation by Washoe tribal members that This is an observation by Washoe tribal members that can still remember the lake the way it was and is can still remember the lake the way it was and is scientifically provenscientifically proven

Fire’s Roll

The Washoe used materials from the land and when The Washoe used materials from the land and when returned to the land, it left no trace 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 Invasive Plants and Animals

We are seeing more and more invasive species being We are seeing more and more invasive species being introduced to the Sierra introduced to the Sierra

Cheat grass has now become another plant community Cheat grass has now become another plant community in the environmentin the environment

Pike in the reservoirs that took years of efforts and Pike in the reservoirs that took years of efforts and thousands of dollars to remove from the ecosystem: that thousands of dollars to remove from the ecosystem: that project is being monitored project is being monitored

The Tribe has a Noxious Weed Program to counter the The Tribe has a Noxious Weed Program to counter the weed problem, and we are working collaboratively with weed problem, and we are working collaboratively with other agencies in a unified attack on weeds other agencies in a unified attack on weeds

Culturally; the native flora and fauna can not compete Culturally; the native flora and fauna can not compete with the invasive species and as a result, the use of with the invasive species and as a result, the use of resources have been limited to areas free of invasive resources have been limited to areas free of invasive and chemical treatmentand chemical treatment

Marie Barry, Program Director marie.barry@washoetribe.us

www.washoetribe.us

Thank you