Washoe

The Seasonal Cycle of the Washoe

The Washoe made use of three contiguous geographical and biological zones. The higher elevations around Lake Tahoe, the boreal zone, contained rich forests of pine, fir, and hemlock trees. The forests contained abundant animal life including deer, antelope, and mountain sheep. Many lakes and streams could also be found in the boreal zone. These bodies of water contained several varieties of trout that represented a staple of the Washoe diet.

Near the eastern foot of the Sierra, community members made use of the transition zone, consisting of piñon pine, sagebrush, and juniper. Pine nuts, another staple of the Washoe diet, represented the largest food supply in this zone, though small game such as rabbits, groundhogs, and some deer could be found there. The last zone, east of the Sierra, anthropologists have labeled the piedmont. This zone contained many valleys, streams, and small lakes where fish, waterfowl, plants, and game thrived.

There were no linguistic or political divisions among the Washoe. Loosely organized branches inhabited far-flung and separate geographical locations during the winter but came closer together, living around Daowaga for the summer. The Washoe from the north, the Welmelti; those from the south Hungalelti, who resided in what is now Alpine County; and the Pauwalu, who lived in Carson Valley; made camps at separate locations on the lake shore.

Even within the branches the Washoe did not live in concentrated villages. Families generally lived together in groups of 2–10 homes, which they referred to as the “bunch,” or “many people living near one another.” The regular settlement areas on the eastern valley floors developed near water sources. These settlement areas remained intact throughout the year. While most community members traveled, some elders, infants, and caretakers maintained the permanent home sites.

Traditional Washishiw

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