Yosemite’s Violent Genesis: The Brutal Expulsion of the Ahwahneechee
Picture this: you’re visiting Yosemite Valley, taking in the breathtaking views, and suddenly you realize you’re standing in the middle of what was once America’s most violent national park takeover. The Mariposa Battalion ruthlessly set fire to the Ahwahneechee settlement in the valley, captured Chief Tenaya and his people, and marched them into the San Joaquin Valley where a reservation was appointed to them. The Ahwahneechees were cleared from their home of more than 4,000 years to make room for gold mining and agriculture. It wasn’t just any ordinary land grab – this was…..