Environmental and Cultural Restoration: Yosemite Land Returned

Nearly 900 acres of land bordering Yosemite National Park have been transferred back to the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation after 175 years of displacement. This land transfer from the Pacific Forest Trust includes the culturally significant Henness Ridge, a traditional Native American trail and key migration corridor for wildlife.

Tribal Secretary Tara Fouch-Moore stated that this reunites their people with a unique area of their homeland. The Pacific Forest Trust spent two decades preparing this land for tribal ownership, originally purchasing it to protect it from development.

Located just west of Chinquapin/Badger Pass and State Highway 41, the property overlooks the Wild and Scenic Merced River and the main Yosemite Valley. The Southern Sierra Miwuk people have historically cared for these forests, meadows, and springs.

The establishment of Yosemite National Park in the 19th century led to the expulsion of the tribe from their ancestral lands. Tribal Council Chair Sandra Chapman expressed that this land will bring the community together, serving as a sanctuary for future generations.

The transfer will facilitate the restoration of biodiversity and climate resilience through traditional ecological practices. Following the 2018 Ferguson Fire, which heavily impacted the property, nearly 500 acres have been restored.

This involved removing dangerous trees, thinning overstocked areas, and planting 125,000 native seedlings. The project aims to create wildlife corridors that will help plants and animals adapt to climate change and promote public education on indigenous land stewardship.

Laurie Wayburn, cofounder and president of Pacific Forest Trust, emphasized the importance of protecting this land. The transfer strengthens the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation’s ongoing pursuit for federal recognition, which has been in progress since 1982.

This land transfer was facilitated by a grant from the California Natural Resources Agency Tribal Nature-Based Solutions Program. Similar initiatives have recently occurred, including the return of 17,000 acres of ancestral lands to the Tule River Indian Tribe.

The Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation looks forward to rebuilding their identity as landowners and stewards, allowing them to cultivate traditional foods, fibers, and medicines while restoring a resilient landscape.