Yosemite's most distinctive monument, Half Dome, dominates most Valley views. Standing at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome rises to an elevation of 8,842 feet. At 87 million years old, the type of granite making up the dome is the youngest plutonic rock in the Valley. (Plutonic rock is formed beneath the earth's surface by intense heat, pressure and slow cooling.) The remaining portions of granite on Half Dome's face are believed to have sheered off during its cooling phase 100 million years ago, deep under the Pacific seabed. Succeeding glaciers deposited some of the debris in moraines along the Valley floor.

We Yosemite Mono Lake Paiute Indians are heading into an exciting time. The Inauguration of our new president Barack Obama is soon about to commence and there will be a happy surprise for us.

It is reported that the theme of the Inauguration Night is going to be Abraham Lincoln and California. How exciting is that to the citizens of the state of California.

The menu, as described by the committee:

*Seafood Stew accompanied by Duckhorn Vineyards, 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley

*Brace of American birds (pheasant and duck), served with Sour Cherry Chutney and Molasses Sweet Potatoes and accompanied by Goldeneye, 2005 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley

*Apple Cinnamon Sponge Cake and Sweet Cream Glacé , with Korbel Natural “Special Inaugural Cuvée,” California Champagne

Proposition 8 brought out many people the Valley including Indian people. We Native people always have had a 'live and let live' belief in life. A person can do anything they please as long as they don't trespass on others. This reminded me of gay peoples place in Paiute culture. In our culture gays had a special place before settlers came. There were old stories of gay people dressing in men or womens clothing. Around Bishop California there was a leader of the Paiute people named Teleelup, who was great leader, medicine man and masterful warrior. Not only was he a warrior leader, but he was aslo gay. One was a famous basket maker in the high Sierra Nevada was a Paiute man named Joe Eugley who wore women's clothing around the early white settlements. So even before white men entered the area we had gay people in our culture. The Union Democrat wrote an article about modern day gay people with a reference to "Rezbians". I have never heard of the term Rezbians, but they are Lesbians who are Indians living on the reservation or a rancheria.

During a recent Native American conferrence some of our tribe met representatives of the Tubatulabal People of Kern County.

Like the Yosemite-Mono Lake Paiute people we are related through our language, the Uto-Aztecan Numic language.

Recently they emailed us a special bulletin concerning the month of November being Native American Hertiage and History Month, which we would like to post:

Tubatulabals of Kern Valley

November 2007