The story of our people is in fact many stories, passed down by spoken word from generation to generation over millennia. From the creation of earth and the first Patwin village by coyote, hawk and turtle in mythical time, to the creation of fire, our language and stories hold within them all that is dear to our people. Our stories take place in our land and feature the animals, plants and geographical features of our region, and between the lines they tell us what life was like in the old times. 

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Our Patwin ancestors lived in villages spread across a large territory that spans from Sonoma Valley in the west to the Sacramento River in the east, and from just south of Clear Lake in the north to San Pablo Bay in the south. Our people traveled among these villages for ceremonies and trade. Footpaths left by these journeys laid the foundation for some of our modern roads, such as California State Route 16, which is now the main road along Cache Creek.   

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