Oak Creek Community Park

Oak Creek Community Park. Fort Independence Reservation. , Welcome to the Fort Independence Reservation, home of the Paiute people. Our Reservation was officially established by Executive Orders in 1915 and 1916, returning 360 acres of land to our people, the rightful native inhabitants. In the year 2000, Public Law 106-568 further expanded the Reservation with the return of an additional 200 acres of land. , Our people have demonstrated unwavering resilience, thriving in this valley since time immemorial. , , In Memory of Vernon J. Miller, 1927-2002, Tribal Chairman for 38 years, respected Elder and a friend to all. "We all have a responsibility to help others out. It's the simple, little things we do that may seem insignificant, but that make a difference." - Vernon J. Miller , , Manahuu! (That's "Hello" in Paiute) , Follow the path to enjoy a brisk .20 mile tour of our community park! , , The Novi was a cozy home. A frame was made from sturdy branches such as birch, with the roof and sides covered with willow, tules, or grass. In winter, furs and pelts could be added for warmth. At times, a sturdier frame was constructed to withstand the winter storms. In summer, open air shelters were used for shade. , , Plants native to this area were, and continue to be, a valuable resource to our people. Once dried, willow shoots could be woven into many things like baskets, mats, clothing and even boats! In modern days, our Tribal members harvest white sage to use in smudging ceremonies. , , Our Paiute people historically relied heavily on acorns from oak trees, particularly the California live oak acorns (tsiginos) and the California black oak acorns (wiya).These acorns were gathered seasonally on Oak Creek, leached, and then eaten or stored. Pine-nuts (tuva) were also gathered from higher elevations and prepared for storage. While abundant on the west side of the Sierra Nevada, California oaks are rare on the east side due to the harsher climate and limited water. , , If you look to the mountains in the East, you might notice Winnedumah, an 80-foot tall stone obelisk, standing alone on top of the ridgeline.Our oral history honors Winnedumah, a loyal Paiute warrior. Winnedumah, humbled in battle, sought refuge atop the Inyo Mountains. There, he prayed for his people's safety. Amidst his steadfast vigil, he was transformed into a sentinel of stone, eternally guarding the valley and our beloved Tribe. , , For thousands of years, our Paiute people ground meal from grasses, nuts and seeds. Rice grass (wai), needle grass (huki), wild wheat, rye and chia were commonly used. Acorns and pinenuts from pinyon pine were harvested in autumn and ground into mush (kivi). After the nuts were processed, they were eaten or stored foMany different types of grinding stones are found in this area. Large depressions were worn into the rock from years of grinding nuts and acorns into fine powder. Smaller holes may have also been used for ceremonial purposes.