Yosemite Forum

Author: S. Salas
Date: 11-18-05 01:28

Dan, I am glad you are putting this book on line, The Big Oak Flat Road.

It's a great reference book for Tuolumne Miwok Indians who lived on the lower Tuolumne and around Sonora. We Mono Paiutes camped along the headwaters of the Upper Tuolumne.


Re: Big Oak Flat Road book.
Author: S. Salas
Date: 11-18-05 01:38

There are not many books who reference the Central Miwoks of Tuolumne.

One reference to was incorrect in the book or either Major James Savage stretched the truth when he said he was married to a daughter of the chief of Yosemites.

Savage had up to 7 wives from the western tribes, but he did not have a wife from the Yosemites.

Just some interesting information about the Screech name. There were Paiutes who had the last name Shrek in Bridgeport area. It was reported that one of the Screech brothers had 'married' a Paiute woman while he lived in Hetch Hetchy and they had children.

There are some signs in Hetch Hetchy done by Yosemite National Park and they have Central Mewuk, Southern Sierra Miwuks and way in the bottom is Mono Lake Paiutes.

It was never recorded that Southern Sierra Miwuks entered Hetch Hetchy Valley only the other two groups. In fact Paiutes OWNED Hetch Hetchy after their battle with the Central Mewuks and that is documented.

The Southern Sierra Miwok were never reported to be in Hetch Hetchy Valley. They are a different group then the Central Mewuk. They even speak a different dialect, so how could the Southern Sierra Miwuk be in Hetch Hetchy Valley if they were way down in Mariposa?

Oh, I forgot, the Southern Sierra Miwuks WORK for Yosemite National Park so of course they are gonna say they were IN Hetch Hetchy.