In early March, Washoe Tribe members led a ceremony to support Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue volunteers who had been responders at the devastating Feb. 17 Castle Peak avalanche. While details are private, two statements were shared with Moonshine Ink.

Darrel Cruz, Washoe Tribe member, said, “I want to acknowledge the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue and thank them for their dedication to the community and for their recent response to the Castle Peak avalanche tragedy.

“We all go back to our roots for the basic spirituality of healing and in times like this, this is what neighbors do for each other.”

~ Darrel Cruz

“Team members who responded to the emergency felt a degree of trauma and grief having to confront what they had to go through that left them with a need to heal. TNSAR reached out to people of the Washoe Tribe to ask for a ceremony to help them heal and replenish their soul through a Washoe sweat ceremony. The Washoe replied and held a special ceremony for the TNSAR team members.

“We all go back to our roots for the basic spirituality of healing and in times like this, this is what neighbors do for each other.”

Troy Corliss, TNSAR volunteer, answered, “Tahoe Nordic SAR thanks the Waší:šiw members for welcoming our request and hosting the sweat lodge ceremony for us. Meeting you and participating in the ceremony helped us to move through a difficult time. We are grateful to you for sharing your customs and guiding us through this ceremony of prayer and healing. May we continue the friendship that you have offered to us.”