Tribe Reclaims Ancestral Land Near Yosemite

Quick Smiles:

• 900 acres returned to Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation after 175 years
• Land restoration and stewardship to revive traditional practices
• Project supports wildlife migration and climate resilience

Nearly 900 acres bordering Yosemite National Park have been returned to the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation, marking a joyful reunion with their ancestral homeland after more than 175 years.

This transfer from Pacific Forest Trust to the tribe restores Henness Ridge, a site of great cultural significance and an important wildlife migration corridor.

“This transfer reunites our people to this unique area of our homeland after 175 years of displacement,” said Tara Fouch-Moore, Tribal Secretary.

Generations ago, the tribe cared for these forests and meadows before being expelled due to settlement and the formation of Yosemite National Park.

Laurie Wayburn, president of Pacific Forest Trust, shared, “As we’ve protected it from development, strengthened its role as a buffer to Yosemite, and prioritized both conservation and cultural restoration, this is an extraordinarily fitting and positive outcome!”

The land will now support traditional ecological knowledge, such as cultural fire and native plant cultivation, while helping restore biodiversity and improve climate resilience.

In the wake of the 2018 Ferguson Fire, Pacific Forest Trust restored much of the area by removing dangerous trees, thinning overstocked land, and planting 125,000 native seedlings.

The project also bolsters the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation’s ongoing quest for federal recognition and provides educational opportunities about indigenous stewardship’s benefits.

“Having this significant piece of our ancestral Yosemite land back will bring our community together to celebrate tradition and provide a healing place for our children and grandchildren. It will be a sanctuary for our people,” said Sandra Chapman, Tribal Council Chair and elder.

The community now looks ahead to restoring traditional foods, fibers, and medicines while strengthening their bond with the land and sharing its abundance with future generations.

Let’s celebrate this uplifting restoration of heritage and nature—proof that hope grows when communities reclaim their roots.

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