A sample story from GHOST STORIES OF CALIFORNIA's GOLD RUCH COUNTRY & YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
My foster parents are from the Toulomne Rancheria. My birth family is from Yukia California. I am by birth, Tsa’lagi or ‘Cherokee,’ but I was raised by my foster parents, in the knowledge and ways of the Yosemite Miwok. I began working at the park at the age of 15, as an Indian Cultural Demonstrator. Today my title is Park Ranger/Interpreter, and I’m also a member of the Park’s Indian cultural staff.

The Indian museum is housed in a park building that was dedicated in 1926, and is constructed of local stone granite. At one corner of the building is an Indian burial whose location is kept secret from the public. We don’t give out information as to the location of the burial, we respectfully kept that information to ourselves.
I know of many spiritual experiences at the park, Yosemite is fill with spirits. And as native people, we believe in the existence of both human and animal spirits. They dwell within the valley mountains, streams and waterfalls. They can be seen, and heard moving about, and at times even singing. We believe this. Personally, I’m always experiencing spirits at the park. Right here in the museum, are many spirits who regularly pay their visits.
Just last week, my two co-workers and I were in the process of closing the museum for the day. We turned off the lights, and turned on the alarm system. Finally, standing at the entrance, before locking the doors, we took one last glance at the interior and left. The next morning I came to work at 7:30, and as soon as I stepped inside the museum, I “felt” that things weren’t right. It was a feeling that just came to me, something was out of balance. People say that when a spirit is present, the room will get cold. Maybe that does happen, but I’ve only experienced the room changing to a very warm temperature, when something of a spiritual nature is about to take place.
Suddenly, the lights that are located in the middle of the museum, specifically spot-lighting the collection of ceremonial regalia, began to flicker. They’d dim, then slowly get bright, and flicker. It appeared as if someone were playing, or sending out a ‘light code’. I explained to my co-worker, “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m not going in there!” No one has ever fully explained to me why the lights that focus only on the ceremonial displays, behave the way they sometimes do.

All I can say about this is that I know there are spirits in the museum. I’ve seen them as they walk by, and approach the area where I am standing. Shadows of people will move about the museum. I’ve gotten so used to seeing them, that I even talk to them. I know that they’re always around. Artifacts that are kept under glass, in display cases, occasionally get moved around. I imagine that the creators of these beautiful baskets and such, are still emotionally attached to them. It’s understandable because of the love, and care, the creative energy those people put into their work.
We have one park ranger who we confided to about the spirits in the museum. He made no qualms about his disbelief in the supernatural. But one evening, as he was closing the museum for the day, something abruptly changed his mind. He said that as he was doing a walk through of the museum, not only did he hear voices, but he actually saw the spirits! Since that evening, he’s not been the same.

Again, I believe that the artifacts we have in the museum were very personal to the people who skillfully, and lovingly made them. I’ve never gotten the feeling that the spirits are angry, they just are checking up on things. The museum does not display anything that is disrespectful to Indian people. The park staff places much importance about not displaying burial jewelry, or offerings.
I need to tell you about the mannequins in the museum. The diorama displays are actually molded from Indians' faces, caste from living people’s faces. They’ll be times when I’ll hear loud shrieks being yelled out by visitors who swear that they’ve seen the mannequin's heads turn to look at them! I’ve even had visitors become so scared by the mannequins, that they will quickly leave the museum without speaking a word. But I know what took place. Visitors have reported to me that they’ve seen the eyes, or mouth move on these mannequins.
My Aunts always cautioned me as a child, never to look, or stare at a spirit straight on, because that can cause the spirit harm. I was told that if spirits chose to appear to us, it’s because they have a lesson, or news to give. I was also taught never to be mean, disrespectful, or talk rude about spirits. This is something I also teach to my own children. The dead must be respected.”

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