Located three miles east of Twain Harte homes, Mi Wuk
Village California real estate honors the Sierra Me-Wuk Indians who dwelt for
centuries in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Real estate in Mi Wuk Village is along
Highway 108 less than 20 miles east of Sonora CA properties. The tiny town is surrounded by Sugar Pine, Sierra
Village and Long Barn at elevations over 4000 feet.
Me-Wuk tribes lived in the foothills of present Tuolumne
County lands. The County extends from
the Stanislaus National Forest south to Yosemite National Park where different
tribes built dwellings of cedar bark. The
tribes are divided into the Northern, Central, and Southern groups.
The Central Sierra Me-Wuk Indian tribes lived between the
Stanislaus River and the rich that separates the Merced and Tuolumne
rivers. They utilized land into Tuolumne
County which is now the northwest portion of Yosemite National Park.
The Central Sierra Me-Wuk also built permanent villages
just below the heavy snow line. These
villages were located on ridges near creeks and natural springs. Me-Wuk houses were built on the ground in the
conical bark style with a fire pit on the floor and a smoke whole in the
top. A large ceremonial Roundhouse
posted religious and social events. The
home of the Me-Wuk chief was large enough to host special events also. The regular homes were smaller. The tribe also built sweat houses or tca’kka with
the fire pits in the center. They were
used for healing and to prepare for deer hunting.
In addition, they built granaries to store food. As the weather warmed up, they traveled to
the high country to hunt and gather food.
The Me-Wuks also traveled up to Sonora Pass to trade with the Sierra
Paiute Indians who lived on the east side of the mountains. The tribes gathered acorns, pine nuts,
obsidian, plants for food and basket making, and other commodities. They also traded with coastal tribes to
obtain shell beads and salt.
A
replica of an Indian village is located at the Summit Ranger Station at the
turn off to Pinecrest on Highway 108. It
is titled the "Shadow of the Miwok Trail." Visitors are able to imagine the Me-Wuk working with the umucha, grinding
rocks, and using the sweat house.