Washoe nonprofit seeks Tahoe Basin land for cultural and spiritual center

A Washoe nonprofit is working to regain land in the Tahoe Basin to establish a cultural and spiritual center, according to Boise State Public Radio. The Washoe Warrior Society, a grassroots organization formed in 2009, aims to create a land trust to increase Washoe access to areas along Lake Tahoe’s shoreline.

Lisa Grayshield, executive director of the Washoe Warrior Society, said the organization’s efforts focus on restoring relationships between Indigenous people and the land. Grayshield said that when Indigenous people engage in traditional activities, the health of the land improves, benefiting both the Washoe people and the broader Lake Tahoe community. The Tahoe Basin spans parts of Nevada and California and holds cultural and spiritual significance for the Washoe people, according to the report.