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Yosemite Online Library—Yosemite Indians (Ahwahneechee “People of Ahwahnee”)

Ahwahneechee Yosemite Indians called themselves Ahwahneechee “People of Ahwahnee” Ahwahnee, their name for Yosemite Valley, their home, Ahwahnee means “mouth” because the valley walls resemble a gaping bear’s mouth. Ahwahnee does not mean “deep, grassy valley.” For details see the article “Origin of the Word Yosemite.” Books and articles about the Ahwahneechee are available online, with the complete text and usually the original illustrations. The Ahwahneechee during discovery by Europeans was a mixed tribe of Northern Paiute, Southern Sierra Miwok, and other Native Americans.

The Southern Sierra Miwok (Me-wuk), which means “people”, originally lived in present Yosemite National Park and central western Sierra Nevada foothills in California.

The Northern Paiute or “Western Mono” originally came from the eastern Sierra Nevada area and settled in Hetch Hetchy Valley and, as part of Chief Tenaya’s tribe, Yosemite Valley. The word Paiute came from Fremont. Paiute call themselves Numa in their language, which means “people”

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[Yosemite] Copyright © 2004-2007 Dan Anderson. All rights reserved.
Last updated 10 July 2011.

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