In the 19th century, the Pomos lost possession of their homeland and much of their tribal culture (such as the making of ingenious basketry fish traps). Then in recent months herbicides began to poison the rich beds of tules along the lakeside.

"I brought my mom out here to get some tules," explains explains tribal administrator Mike Umbrello. "But when we got here, we found that they were all bitter. It was the saddest thing when my mother saw she couldn't eat them anymore. ... I promised I would do something about it."