The Water People

In the late 1700's the land that is now Lake Elsinore was inhabited by the "Pai-ah-che" Native Americans, who called the lake "Etengvo Wumoma" meaning "Hot Springs by the Little Sea".

The Pai-ah-che people believed that the lake and surrounding area was very sacred. Their Holy Man, Wiyot, shared his wisdom on the shore of the lake for a period of time until he ascended into the sky and became the moon (Moyla).

Another fascinating part of their heritage, is that they also worshipped One God, called Changichnish. They also have the story of the Great Flood and the repopulation of the earth afterwards. (Luiseno Indians - University of California)
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I find it absolutely astonishing how similar the stories of the flood described in the Bible and the flood described half a world away by the Luiseno tribes are. We really are so connected to each other, we human beings... We tend to often only see our differences, but we are so alike and so interconnected in our stories, our needs, our wants, our hopes, our dreams and our histories. Makes me smile. :)


Credit: "Lake Elsinore Valley - Its Story" - Tom Hudson