Tehachapi in Kern County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

People of the Mountains

The Nüwa Tribe

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 21, 2019

1. People of the Mountains Marker

Inscription. In this village scene from before contact with the white man, women weave baskets and grind foodstuffs in bedrock mortars. Children play games, as the men make tools and weave rabbit pelt blankets. The border shows more recent members and elders of the tribe, and baskets for which the local Indians were known.

The background includes local pictographs, a natural lake and the natural vegetation still visible in the area, such as cattails and rushes. The domed huts are called kahni, which means house in the Kawaiisu or Nüwa language.

Painted by Colleen Mitchell-Veyna — 2004

Erected 2004 by Tehachapi Heritage League, and Tehachapi Main Street. (Marker Number 25.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. A significant historical year for this entry is 2004.

Location. 35° 7.856′ N, 118° 26.88′ W. Marker is in Tehachapi, California, in Kern County. It is at the intersection of F Street and Green Street, on the left when traveling west on F Street. Located on the north side of the Hitching Post Theater. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 S Green St, Tehachapi CA 93561, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley,

specifically in the Central Valley,

and in the Sierra Nevada.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker

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: Hitching Post Theatre (a few steps from this marker); What a Shock! The 1952 Earthquake (within shouting distance of this marker); Mining, Gold, Salt and Limestone (within shouting distance of this marker); Early Settlements in The Tehachapi Area (within shouting distance of this marker); Tehachapi Airport and Gliderport (within shouting distance of this marker); Monolith (within shouting distance of this marker); Ranching, Farming and Orchards (within shouting distance of this marker); The Women's Prison in Tehachapi - 1932 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tehachapi.

Regarding People of the Mountains. The Kawaiisu people, also called Nüwa which means "people" in Kawaiisu, are the Native American tribe whose homeland was the Tehachapi Valley and nearby mountains.

People of the Mountains Mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, February 18, 2012

2. People of the Mountains Mural

The late Andy Greene (left) had protected the Tomo-Kahni site. Harold Williams (right) is the current Nüwa elder.

Photographed by Denise Boose, February 18, 2012

3. People of the Mountains Mural

The women are grinding acorns in bedrock mortars. Behind them, the rocks are adorned with paintings.

Photographed by Denise Boose, February 18, 2012

4. People of the Mountains Mural

Nüwa women are making baskets. Behind them are homes called "kahn-hi" made of willow branches and thatched tules from the local area.

Photographed by Denise Boose, February 18, 2012

5. People of the Mountains Mural

Emma Williams was known as a master basket maker and Nüwa elder.

Bedrock Mortars image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, January 8, 2012

6. Bedrock Mortars

"Indian Mortar Rock found on line of Southern Pacific Company, Caliente Canyon. Used by the Kawaiisu Indians for grinding acorns and other wild edibles." Located at the Kern County Museum in Bakersfield.

Photographed by Denise Boose, September 10, 2023

7. People of the Mountains Mural

Photographed by Denise Boose, June 27, 2025

8. People of the Mountains Mural

Photographed by Denise Boose, June 27, 2025

9. People of the Mountains Marker

The restoration of this historical mural was made possible thanks to the contributions of the following individuals, businesses, and organizations. The Mark and Jessie Milano Foundation, Dwight and Laura Dreyer, Giner Patz, J.R.and Heather Long, James and Cheryl Wilson, Joshua and Julia Orrantia, Lyn Bennett, Randy and Kris Grugen, The Pauer Family, The Loop Newspaper, BSE Tehachapi, Tehachapi Arts Foundation, Tehachapi Tourism Commission. City of Tehachapi, Kern County Board of Supervisors, 2025

Photographed by Denise Boose, June 27, 2025

10. People of the Mountains Marker

The Mark and Jessie Milano Foundation remains dedicated to supporting the arts and preserving the history of Tehachapi and the Kawaiisu. The Foundation is committed to the future conservation of this historical mural. 2025

Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 26, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 1,326 times since then and 40 times this year. Last updated on October 3, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1. submitted on October 3, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 26, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 7. submitted on September 10, 2023, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 8, 9, 10. submitted on July 19, 2025, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.