The Washoe lived in the Truckee and Carson Valley area on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. They lived at an elevation of 4,000 to 5,000 ft. If they were lucky 3-10 houses could turn into a village which was mostly comprised of family members. An elder was usually the head of each settlement. Each family in the settlement made its own decision about food gathering. Neighboring settlements often worked together and sometimes came together to form hunting parties during the year.
