Lesson 2: Valley and Desert Tribes

Tribes in the Central Valley and the Desert adapted to very different environments. The Miwok people lived in the fertile valley. They used tule, a tall reed found in marshy areas, to build cone-shaped homes.

In contrast, the Cahuilla lived in the hot, dry desert. They built homes called kish using brush and palm fronds to provide shade. Despite these differences, both groups faced the challenge of storing food. They both built elevated granaries—large basket-like structures raised off the ground—to protect their acorns and seeds from animals and moisture.

For many California tribes, the acorn was the most important food source, but it required hard work and science to make it edible. This process happened in a specific sequence:

Harvesting: In the fall, women and children gathered fallen acorns from oak trees.

Storage: The nuts were dried and stored in granaries for winter.

Inland tribes did not always stay in one village all year. Instead, they practiced seasonal migration. This means they moved their homes depending on the time of year to find the best weather and resources.

In the cold winter, tribes lived in the lower valley floors where it was warmer and safer. In the hot summer, they traveled up to higher elevations in the mountains. The mountain air was cooler, and they could gather ripening berries and hunt deer. By moving, they could use the resources of both the valley and the mountains without exhausting either one.