Do you know Payahuunadü?

Nanüümüyadohana is the mother language of Payahuunadü, now called Owens Valley. For thousands of years, the people of Payahuunadü have used it to talk, sing, and tell stories. Every place, animal, object, and feeling has a name in nanüümüyadohana. Due to the California Genocide and forced assimilation, many of these names are no longer used, but Indigenous organizations in Payahuunadü are fighting to change that!

Kubishi means brain in nanüümüyadohana

Our mission is to help preserve and protect Owens Valley Paiute history, language, and culture. This website is an online dictionary and encyclopedia dedicated to Payahuunadü and its first people. Kubishi was created and is maintained by Jared Coleman, member of the Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owen's Valley. The majority of words and sentences in this dictionary are from the Owens Valley Paiute Dictionary, created by Glenn Nelson Jr. It is thanks to his work, and the native speakers and elders he worked with, that this website is possible.