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The Miwok were the early Californians who lived in three areas of the state - along the coast north of San Francisco, beside Clear Lake, and inthe foothills and backcountry areas of the Sierra Nevada. In this unit we are going to select a backcountry tribal group of the Miwok to study - those living in the Yosemite Valley..

The Miwok moved into Yosemite Valley after their homelands in the Sierra foothills became crowded by other tribal groups. This band of Miwok found an older tribe in the valley when they arrived, a people who had come there from the Great basin on the eastern side of the sierras many generations before. The two groups intermarried and became a unique group with in the Miwok. Their primary trade partner were the Mono who lived around Mono Lake, and would meet them each summer at a peak to trade goods.

The Miwok traded black oak acorns and deer meat. The Mono traded pine nuts, obsidian, salt and insects. This hike to the trading place was a spring and summer journey for many of the Miwok and it took them into the remote backcountry of the sierras, following deer herds along the way.

In Yosemite Valley - which they called A-wah-nee ( meaning gaping mouth ), the Miwok lived on both sides of the Merced River. Those living on the north side considered themselves members of a Bear Clan, and those living on the south recognized themselves as members of the Coyote clan. Marriages between the two sides were how the young men and women found mates.

The Yosemite Miwok lived in the Valley for several generations, and built villages at over 30 different sites. These villages were made of incense cedar bark conical houses that were tipi-style, and often had a semi-underground large ceremonial house, and smaller subterranean sweat houses. They enjoyed eating wild raspberries, thimbleberries, strawberries, currants, gooseberries and cherries ), mushrooms, and trapped small game ( squirrels and rabbits, and birds ), caught trout and fish in the river, and hunted the deer for hood and clothing materials. They were also occasionally in a position to bring down a bear, or a mountain lion.

When the Miwok captured an animal, its flesh may have become part of their food, and its bones, skin or feathers may well have become part of their clothing or tools. The Miwoks practiced what we now call sustainable living, and lived with an intelligent balance on their land. The feathers of eagles, hawks, red flickers, quail, and woodpeckers were the ornamentation for their beautiful dance capes, headbands, sashes, and skirts. The skin of the deer was made into their loincloths and skirts. The fur of the bear, rabbit, or coyote was made into capes and blankets for the cold winter months.

The tools of the Miwok were made from obsidian for blades, deer bones for punch awls and hide scrappers. Their baskets were excellent quality works of art using both the twined ( upright spines with cross woven colored grasses ) or coiled ( long snake-like lengths of bound grasses coiled from bottom to top of basket and sewn securely.