Deeper Than Gold

Maidu, Konkow, Nisenan, Miwuk, Chukchansi: these are the native people of the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, an area rich in indigenous history, myth, and tradition. Carefully written and richly detailed, Deeper Than Gold offers a unique opportunity to become acquainted with a wealth that existed long before the California gold rush brought a flood of newcomers and epic changes to the landscape. Here you can find the spot where Earthmaker and Coyote rested after creating the world; the native villages that existed where present-day cities and suburbs sprawl; the ceremonies that greeted spring so exuberantly; and the stories that filled slow winter days with food for thought. The native presence in the area remains strong, celebrated here in a selection of stunning portraits and brilliant landscapes by photographer Dugan Aguilar. Book jacket.