Ohlone Villages in the Area

Before European colonizers took over much of the land around Sausal Creek, this area was home an Ohlone tribelet. It is likely that the Huichin Ohlone or Jalquin Ohlone lived here. The Huichin and Jalquin are both specific, distinct tribes under the umbrella term “Ohlone”, which is used to refer to the more than 50 distinct Indigenous tribes living in the East Bay. Given the size and year round flow in Sausal, at least one Ohlone triblet would have traveled up and down this creek seasonally, setting up different camps or visiting ongoing village sites, depending on where food was abundant at certain times of year. Generally though, the creek and surrounding hillsides provided ample nourishment, including an array of plants, game, and fish.