Each year, hundreds of thousands of people visit Lake Tahoe—three times the number of visitors to Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks combined. Yet, beyond being an internationally recognized tourist destination, Lake Tahoe is the spiritual and physical home of the Washoe people, and their most sacred place.
 

In the Washoe language (pronounced wa-shoe), "Washoe" means "the people from here." But who exactly are the Washoe? Most residents and visitors of Lake Tahoe have little knowledge of the lake’s original inhabitants—people who have lived in and cared for this land for many thousands of years—or their enduring presence and stewardship.
 

One of the Washoe origin stories, shared by tribal member, historian, and educator Jo Ann Nevers, explains: "When the Maker scattered the seeds of humanity, he saved a handful of seeds to become the Washoe. With all other areas taken, he gave the Washoe a place he had reserved for himself—Da-ow (Lake Tahoe). He knew the Washoe would care for this place, and they have from time immemorial." The name Tahoe is derived from the Washoe word Da-ow, meaning "lake." To the Washoe, Da-ow is the center of their world—a living entity that sustains all life in and around it.
 

This project, a collaboration between the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California and the Museum of Tahoe, is a dedicated effort to illuminate and share the stories of contemporary Washoe individuals in their own words. Just as the Washoe people are a vibrant and evolving community—actively shaping the present while honoring their traditions—this exhibit is a living document, growing and evolving alongside the people it celebrates.