The following narrative is based on information submitted by the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians and is provided to reflect the perspective of native peoples on the history of the Madera area. Long before non-native traders and explorers arrived in the early 1800s, many native tribes, including the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians, were already well established in the area now known as Madera County. The tribes migrated between more permanent residence in the foothills to the valley floor where they hunted plentiful game, fished the many rivers, and gathered a variety of foodstuffs, depending on the season. The constant migration from foothills to valley and back again encouraged friendly interaction between tribes as they traded goods, shared ceremonies, and intermarried.