Our Story

Wopumnes Heritage and Nature Conservancy

Preserving Our Heritage, Protecting Our Lands, and Sharing Our Culture

The beautiful foothills of El Dorado County have been home to the Wopumnes Nisenan and Mewuk people for generations. Long before the California Gold Rush, our families lived among the oak woodlands, rivers, and valleys of this region, developing a rich cultural heritage and a deep relationship with the natural world.

Our story is woven into the history of California itself.

When gold was discovered at Coloma in 1848, our ancestors were already part of the communities that would become famous throughout the world. They helped John Sutter build the mill in Coloma, witnessed James Marshall find gold, and survived the 300,000 Gold seekers at the epicenter of the California Gold Rush. 

Our ancestors were among the Native American signers of the 1851 Treaty of Cosumnes River. Their names and family histories appear throughout early government records, historical newspapers, and United States Census documents.

These records tell a remarkable story of a people who remained connected to their homeland through generations of extraordinary change.

A History Worth Remembering

Some of the earliest accounts of the Wopumnes appear in the writings of John Sutter, who described our ancestors in his diaries. Sutter referred to our Tribe as the "Shingle Springs Indians" as our main village site was Shingle Springs where we sources salt and cedar shingles bringing them to the growing settlements. His accounts also mention our individual ancestors by name and credited us with helping build the Sutter's Mill in Coloma. 

In 1870, the Sacramento Daily Union reported that Chief Charlie had called Native families from miles around to gather at their village in Shingle Springs.

Other stories are preserved through our families.

One tells of Rosa, a young Nisenan girl who was taken in by the Pollock family of Pollock Pines. Rosa later married John Craig, and together they moved to Clarksville, in what is now El Dorado Hills, where they raised six children. The Clarksville Red Barn still stands out there today.

These are more than historical anecdotes. They are the stories of real families whose descendants remain connected to El Dorado County today.

Our Families in the Federal Record

The Wopumnes people are documented throughout the federal government's early California Indian records.

Holla, Mattos, Boyer and Hin-ceyo signed the Treaty of Cosumnes River in 1851 representing the Wopumnes. We know who the families are and their surnames today. 

In 1905–1906, Special Indian Agent C. E. Kelsey recorded over thirty Native families living in El Dorado County "of Nisenan and Miwok stock".  Kelsey reported the need for land to be purchased for the Indians of El Dorado County and in 1906 and 1908 Congress allocated money for the land purchases. Later in 1915-1920 Indian Agent John Terrell continued documenting these families, identifying them as people of Nisenan and Miwok ancestry and purchased 240 acres of their village site off Greenstone Road to preserve for their future generations.

In 1920, the Smith and Padilla families lived on the 240 acre purchase in the Greenstone area. The Federal Government named it "Shingle Springs Rancheria" for the Mewuk Tribe. The same Tribe that John Sutter called the "Shingle Springs Indians".   United States Census Records show no other groups of "Indians" lived on the rancheria from 1905-1970.

Among the El Dorado County families recorded were the Smiths, Tripps, and Padillas, whose descendants continue to preserve their shared history today.

Federal records document the historic El Dorado County Indian families from 1852 in every United States Cenus since. In 1928 Charles R. Padilla lead Natives from four counties to join with the California Attorney General to sue the Federal Government, this is memorialized in the Democrat-Republican News paper article "Indians of the County take Warpath". The Congressional Record talks about the El Dorado Indians during discussions of the Howard-Wheeler act. This culminated in their participation in the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, as the resident electorate recorded in 1935 for the Shingle Springs Rancheria.  Elizabeth, Lillian and Herbert Padilla voted on June 4, 1935 to organize under their own constitution, rejecting the Secretary's template.  Manual Wing Padilla was too young to vote in the IRA but his legacy lives today on the Board of Directors of the Wopumnes 501c3, representative of the continuous government (the non-terminated Indian community) of the Shingle Springs Rancheria. 

These historical documents are an important part of understanding the Wopumnes people, their ancestral lands, and their relationship with the United States government.

Today, our families continue working to preserve this history and ensure that future generations have access to the records and stories of their ancestors.

Preserving Our Heritage for Future Generations

In 2018, descendants of the historic Wopumnes Nisenan and Mewuk families established the Wopumnes Nisenan and Mewuk Heritage Preservation Society, also known as the Wopumnes Heritage and Nature Conservancy.

Our mission is simple: to preserve the cultural and natural heritage of El Dorado County for generations to come.

We believe that protecting our history also means caring for the land that has sustained our people for centuries.

Our work brings together Native American cultural preservation, historical research, environmental conservation, education, and community involvement.

From protecting archaeological sites and historic landscapes to restoring native habitats and sharing traditional arts, we are committed to keeping the heritage of the Sierra Nevada foothills alive.

Bringing History and Culture to Life

One of the most rewarding parts of our work is sharing Native American culture with the community.

Over the years, we've sponsored cultural celebrations, educational demonstrations, traditional arts, and community gatherings throughout El Dorado County.

Our activities have included Native American cultural programs at the Gold Country Fair, Christmas celebrations at the Nisenan Village at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Earth Day events, and participation in local heritage festivals.

Visitors have enjoyed traditional dancing, Native American arts and crafts, our popular WhoopAxe Tomahawk Throw, and opportunities to learn directly from Native cultural representatives.

We also support projects such as the Native Interpretive Garden at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park and the Sierra Monarch and Pollinator Rescue Flyway, which bring together cultural education and environmental stewardship.

Caring for the Land

Our work extends beyond cultural events.

We participate in archaeological surveys, cultural resource monitoring, historic site documentation, and conservation projects throughout the region.

We also provide educational presentations, cultural consultations, traditional site blessings, and opportunities for Native American artists and craftspeople to share their work.

Whether we're helping protect a historic landscape, restoring habitat for native pollinators, or introducing children to the history of the Gold Rush through Native eyes, our purpose remains the same: to preserve what makes El Dorado County special.

A Community for Everyone

The Wopumnes Heritage and Nature Conservancy welcomes people from all backgrounds who share an appreciation for Native American history, cultural preservation, and the natural beauty of California's foothills.

We believe that the indigenous spirit of appreciating the mother earth lives in all God's creation. Our history comes alive when people have the opportunity to experience it, learn from it, and become part of its preservation.

Our organization is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation and a federally recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. We welcome financial contributions, land donations, vehicles, and other gifts that support our preservation and educational programs.

The Conservancy operates independently of the Wopumnes Tribal Council, which is a separate tribal governing body. While some Tribal Council representatives also serve on our nonprofit's Board of Directors, the Conservancy maintains its own charitable mission and organizational responsibilities.

Join Us in Preserving Something Extraordinary

The history of El Dorado County is still being discovered, preserved, and shared.

We invite you to explore our heritage, attend our events, support our conservation projects, and help us protect the cultural and natural treasures of the Sierra Nevada foothills.

Our history is part of California's history. Together, we can keep it alive for generations to come.

Wopumnes Heritage and Nature Conservancy

Wopumnes Nisenan and Mewuk Heritage Preservation Society

California 501(c)(3) Nonprofit | EIN 83-2671897