Wášiw-šiw Land Trust is an Indigenous organization dedicated to returning lands in the Northern Sierra to the ownership and care the Washoe People of Nevada and California. Through land acquisition, conservation, restoration, and capital investment, the Land Trust works to protect sacred sites, re-establish gathering places and ceremonies, and revitalize the abundance of native flora and fauna that sustain traditional foods, tools, and medicines. By cultivating and sharing Washoe Ecological Knowledge, building strategic partnerships, and investing in programs that address environmental, cultural, and community needs, the Land Trust nurtures the spirit, skills, and well-being of Tribal members of all ages while strengthening the long-term resilience of the Tribe and its homelands.
An Indigenous Land Trust
Photo: Elizabeth Carmel
An Initiative of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California
Below is an excerpt from the website of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California about the Tribe’s history.
The center of the Wá∙šiw world is dáɁaw (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 Wá∙šiw people are a distinct people who share commonalities with both the Great Basin and the California Cultures. The four directions of Wá∙šiw territory was occupied by different bands of the Wá∙šiw that made up the whole of the tribe. Although one tribe, each band was unique in its own area of occupation with subtle differences in cultural diversity and language patterns.
During the California gold rush followed by the subsequent silver rush in Nevada a few years later, thousands of miners and immigrants flooded Wá∙šiw lands in a relatively short time period and they stayed here, disrupting the balance; changing the Wá∙šiw world forever in only a few short years. The demand on the natural resources by the immigrant population depleted much of it.
Wášiw-šiw Land Trust will restore balance throughout the four directions of Wá∙šiw territory as properties become available for acquisition.
Wášiw-šiw Land Trust will restore balance throughout the four directions of Wá∙šiw territory as properties become available for acquisition.
Click the player to listen to these words
Thank You to Our Partners and Funders
We thank the following organizations, agencies and individuals for supporting the launch of the Wášiw-šiw Land Trustand the return of this land to the Washoe People.
11th Hour Project, a program of the Schmidt Family Foundation
Elizabeth Carmel
Feather River Land Trust
March Conservation Fund
Northern Sierra Partnership
Spaht Family Foundation
California Wildlife Conservation Board