The Kawaiisu Culture

Imagine living in a world without shopping malls, grocery stores, television, or cars. In this world, you would have to rely on your knowledge of your surroundings and your ability to make the most of available resources for your survival. To preserve these resources, your beliefs and values would need to reflect respect for the land and all (plant, vegetable, animal) who inhabit it. You would need to hunt or gather your own food as well as materials for tools, clothing and shelter. Since you don't have a mall, everything would need to be made from scratch. Add to this the beauty of an unspoiled landscape, and you have a very simple picture of life as it used to be at Tomo-Kahni.

Tomo-Kahni, or Winter Home, is a historic Kawaiisu Native American village site. Nestled atop a ridge in the Tehachapi Mountains, and overlooking the Tehachapi Valley, the site offered plentiful resources for the former residents.

Tomo-Kahni became a unit of the State Park System in 1993, one of several Native American sites in the system. Due to the cultural and environmental sensitivity of the site, it is open by tour only. Please see the Tour Information section for details about visiting Tomo-Kahni.

To learn a little more about Tomo-Kahni and the Kawaiisu, browse the topics on the left. We hope you will enjoy your virtual visit and look forward to seeing you on a tour!

If you have any questions or need additional information, please e-mail mojave@parks.ca.gov or call the Mojave Sector Office of California State Parks at (661) 946-6092.