Customer Reviews

Two Bear Cubs: A Miwok Legend from California's Yosemite Valley

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As a fourth grade teacher in California, I have the pleasure of teaching California history. This book is a great retelling of an old Miwok Indian legend set in Yosemite Valley. Locals, Robert and Daniel San Souci write and illustrate a fun story that tells of the formation of El Capitan in Yosemite. It also teaches that each individual, regardless of size can make a difference. At the end of the book is information on the Miwok tribe and a helpful list of related readings and web sites. The students love the book and it is a fun way to present a California tribe's legend.

Rock Chief in the book was a real Paiute Chief. They were also known as Captains. The orignal Indians of Yosemite were Mono Paiutes and not Miwoks. Miwoks were the gold diggers and scouts for the whites and the military who wanted to clear out the Yosemite Indians who were Mono Paiutes. The Yosemite Mono Paiutes were attacking white gold miners as they got closer and closer to the mountians in their quest for gold. So the whites decided to create a militia to 'clear out' the troublesome Indians and they did. Chief Tenaya was a Paiute born at Mono Lake and not in Yosemite. Tenaya took 200 to 300 Paiutes back into Yosemite Valley and created the PAIUTE Colony of Ahwahnee. There were NO Miwoks living in Yosemite Valley. There were Yokuts living at the southern end of the Yosemite National park, but NEVER in Yosemite Valley itself. That was an area that was Paiute and so was Hetch Hetchy. Miwoks or Walla Walla Indians, as they were earliar called, were brought in to work for the whites. So any referrence to Miwok in the book should be Paiute, since Mono Paiutes were the original Indians. We also have the proof something they don't have...only legends. You can find the truth by typing in Google search. Yes, their was a Tukonula, but he was a PAIUTE and not a Miwok. At that time Miwoks and Paiutes were enemies.

But great artwork.

The illustrations are the best part of this book, and one (at least) has been made into a beautiful poster for Yosemite Park. But the supposed Indian legend lacked for me the charm of a mythical tale told well. The child in me was not fascinated by the story. I bought it because someone gave me the poster, which I framed; I like the poster better than the book.