Washoe Displacement from Tahoe as a Result of Tourism

Lake Tahoe, known in Wa​​šiw as DáɁaw, is the ancestral homeland of the Washoe Tribe, and its portrayal is more complicated than its status as a tourist icon suggests. For thousands of years, the lake has been a cornerstone of Washoe life: fishing, hunting, and spiritual traditions have all depended on this storied site. While early 19th–20th century industrialism accelerated the displacement of the Washoe Tribe, tourism has more significantly impacted the Washoe by perpetuating the cultural and physical aspects of their displacement. The Washoe have undertaken various forms of resistance to preserve their culture and the sacredness of the Lake.