Poo-Ha-Bah (a Newe or Western Shoshone word that means "doctor water") is a retreat center for traditional Indigenous healing, located at a hot spring in Tecopa, California, near the southeastern entrance to Death Valley. Poo-Ha-Bah was founded by Corbin Harney, Newe Elder and Executive Director of Shundahai Network, primarily to offer traditional Native healing ways using spiritual practices, thermal waters and plants.

The thermal waters in Tecopa, have been found to contain the best possible qualities to promote healing of many kinds of conditions. Newe peoples have used the various hot springs in Tecopa for healing purposes since time immemorial. (The town is named after Chief Tecopa, who deeded some of the springs to the county for public use.)

Poo-Ha-Bah provides a place for traditional Native American knowledge to be utilized and passed on to future generations. We have three main programs: traditional healing services, education and mentorship, and retreats for Indigenous led organizations and alliances.

The vision for Poo-Ha-Bah was inspired in part by the devastating impact on Western Shoshone people of living downwind from the Nevada Nuclear Test Site. We are aware that large portions of our Mother Earth's water, land, and air are contaminated by toxic pollutants, including nuclear radiation. We believe that, as a direct result, people are being devastated by cancer and many other diseases in epidemic proportions.

Poo Ha Bah seeks to address these problems by offering the holistic teachings of elders, many of whom are also anti-nuclear and environmental activists, and by providing facilities for Native-led environmental organizations and coalitions to hold retreats and workshops.

Poo Ha Bah is now in the second year of a three-year development phase. Last year we purchased the site, were accepted as an affiliate of the Seventh Generation Fund (our fiscal sponsor), drew together an all-Native Advisory Board, and repaired living quarters for our resident staff.

This year we are focused on board and staff development, fundraising, finalizing a master plan, soliciting meaningful community involvement in Poo-Ha-Bah through our Mentorship Program, and accomplishing sufficient repairs to bring the facility up to health and safety standards.

In our third year, we hope to finish renovating existing structures, construct a roundhouse for ceremonial purposes, install alternative energy systems, coordinate extensive community involvement, finish program planning and financial planning, acquire neighboring properties for future expansion, and reintroduce native plants to provide a healing environment, windbreaks, shade and wildlife habitat.

Poo-Ha-Bah is ideally located for using both solar- and wind-generated energy. Installing alternative energy systems will decrease Poo-Ha-Bah's dependence on imported electrical power generated by coal and nuclear energy. Since the toxic legacy was one inspiration for the creation of Poo-Ha-Bah, it is important to create and demonstrate an alternative model of non-toxic power generation and ecological building for guests to see, use, learn from, and take back to their communities.

When renovation is complete, Poo-Ha-Bah will be able to offer traditional healing services to the Indigenous community and others.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help bring to life Corbin's vision of healing and sustainable living that will help not only the Indigenous communities but all life everywhere. You can make checks out to Seventh Generation Fund / Poo Ha Bah and mail them to PO Box 187,Tecopa, CA 92389. To find out about how to participate in upcoming Work parties please call 760-852-4288.

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