Cultural History
A Spiritual Place
According to Mountain Maidu traditions, the Worldmaker came to Mountain Meadows to rest, and upon awakening declared that this should be a place where His people could always come and there would be an abundance of food and wildlife. But more importantly, it would always be a place of peace and beauty.
The Mountain Meadows Basin is an area of enduring importance to the Mountain Maidu people of Northeastern California. The land surrounding (and sometimes protected by) the waters of Mountain Meadows Reservoir, as well as key sites in the surrounding mountain, contain Mountain Maidu historic, ceremonial, village, and burial sites. Mountain Maidu spiritual traditions also indicate that the Mountain Meadows Basin played a key role in their creation story. Protecting the lands and waters of the Mountain Meadows Basin will also help to preserve these important cultural, historical, and sacred sites.
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