Bower Cave and the Mi-Wuk People
Bower Cave ( Oo'-tin ) is one of the most significant cultural and spiritual places for the Sierran Me-Wuk people. For thousands of years they inhabited the western slopes and foothills of the Sierra, including villages near Bower Cave ( Sope-nehi ) and present-day Groveland ( Pigliku and Sala ). One traditional legend identifies the cave as the home of chiefs Too'-le , the Evening Star, and He-le'-jah , the Mountain Lion.
A story notes that the chiefs had a room on the north side of Bower Cave (probably its large chamber), and that many others lived there, including To-lo'-mah (the Wild Cat), Yu'-wel (the Gray Fox), and Kah'-kool (the Raven). One version of the legend suggests that food, left when the animal people abandoned the cave, hardened and turned into stalactites and stalagmites.
The spiritual and religious significance of the cave carries through the Me-Wuk. Respect for these beliefs is one reason that Bower Cave has limited access and a high level of protection today, after nearly 200 years of developed use.
