The Walk

Since 1990 the Southern Sierra Miwuk, Mono Lake Paiute, and other associated tribes in the Yosemite/ Mariposa area of the Central Sierra Nevada mountain range have carried on our ancestral journey of walking the path of our ancestors.

With the exception of 2018 due to wildfire, tribal members have been walking trails every summer from Mono Lake to Yosemite Valley and back. This important cultural traditional walk is a recreation of how our ancestors traded over the high mountain passes. 

Our Southern Sierra Miwuk ancestors walked, prayed, gathered, hunted and traded acorn, obsidian, plant medicines, etc with each other along this route. Southern Sierra Miwuk tribe continues this journey to present day. This journey, called "The Traditional Walk" by tribal members and participants, is one of the longest standing modern tribal journey traditions in the country. The Walk remains to be a powerful cultural and spiritual teacher to all who come along for this journey. During the walk we share traditional stories and songs of our people, we teach young people how to treat our the  mother earth and walk with elders. The Traditional Walk is a spiritual journey. Walkers re-connect with their tribal homeland and each other, learning about relations and shared history, culture and stories.