Our Story & Vision
Welcome to Payahuunadü
Our Story
Since time immemorial, Payahuunadü (Owens Valley) has been home to the Nüümü (Paiute) and Newe (Shoshone) people. Located on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, the local name, "place of the flowing water," is reflective of the abundant water flowing down from the mountains.
Unfortunately, the land is primarily controlled by outside entities and the water has been stolen and exported by the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) since
1913. LADWP owns 95% of the valley floor, while the Tribes combined own 1/3 of 1%.
Among the 1.6% of lands in private ownership, Three Creeks is a rare 5-acre oasis owned by Gigi Coyle and collectively cared for by many stewards over the last 25 years.
In September of 2022, Gigi accepted a proposal from the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission (OVIWC) with support from core partners (forming the Three Creeks Collective) Together they raised $900,000 to purchase Three Creeks and pass the title to OVIWC in February of 2023.
Three Creeks will provide space to nurture connections that build alliances and bring attention to local/global water issues, contribute to food sovereignty, support cultural revitalization, and engage youth in community with global stewards.
Our initial fundraising goal of $2,000,000 will enable us to purchase and protect the land and contribute to general operating costs, repairs, and upgrades for the project's first three years.
Our Vision
By returning Three Creeks to Indigenous care, this 5 acre sanctuary will offer holistic connections to:
Culture
Food Sovereignty & Land Stewardship
Water Protection
Healing
Relationship Building
Education & Art
Three Creeks will be a safe place where Indigenous people can begin healing from the historical traumas caused by displacement and loss of culture— while continuing to welcome and invite global, regional, and local stewards to collaborate and heal. Collectively, we will nurture and care for the land, water, structures, and spirit of Three Creeks.
As the First Water & Land Back example in our region, this project will be a stepping stone for expanding the land base of the Indigenous people of Payahuunadü. Our work will serve as a model that can be replicated for the acquisition of other privately owned properties and lands in the area and the valley.
The yellow on the map shows the Lands in Payahuunadü (which stretches over 100 miles long). Currently owned by Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).
What Supporting Three Creeks Will Offer Payahunnadü
Culture
Indigenous ceremonies such as the annual pinenut blessing, coming of age, doctoring, celebrations of life, and more.
Collaboration with the Owens Valley Paiute-Shoshone Cultural Center and others to host oral history and storytelling events.
Food Sovereignty, Land Stewardship & Water Protection
Expand access to locally-grown foods and medicines for increased regional food security.
Provide demonstration gardens and orchards for hands-on engagement to share knowledge and inspiration.
Organize and host Farmer-to-Farmer exchanges and Indigenous permaculture workshops.
Continue to share and bring awareness to the water story of the Nüümü (Paiute) and Newe (Shoshone) people that will help secure and protect future land and water.
Healing
Safe space and access to earthen buildings for prayer, ceremony, and rest.
Engagement with and caring for the land, water, gardens, and orchards to support recovery.
Welcome back stewards, to live in reciprocity with the land and people of Payahuunadü.
Space for ceremonies/gatherings that have been held in previous years.
Relationship Building
Provide a space for growing healthy relationships.
Bring visibility to local environmental and social justice issues through networks and organizations.
Leadership summits and retreats for the Indigenous community and longtime partner organizations.
Increase collaboration between
Indigenous and non-indigneous peoples to build alliances for the collective protection of water, land, and biodiversity.
Education & Art
Share traditional basket weaving
Youth camps that engage our elders in sharing their oral histories and reclaiming cultural memories and practices.
Collaboration with local and global artists
Using film and performance arts as a regenerative medium for communities to share their own stories and reclaim control of their own narratives.
YOUR SUPPORT
DONATE
Make a monetary tax exempt contribution in order to support important water rights, land and environment issues.
VOLUNTEER
We are building our list of people who wish to volunteer! Be a part of our mission and support our goals.