For about 12,000 years, Native American tribes built steambaths at the Geysers and used the steam and hot water for healing purposes and cooking. When European Americans first entered the area, six Indian tribes inhabited the area around the Geysers, three bands of Pomo people, two bands of Wappo people, and the Lake Miwok people. The Wappo also collected sulfur which they called "te'ke" and a Wappo village, named "tekena'ntsonoma" ("teke" sulphur + "nan" well containing water + "tso" ground + "no'ma" village) was located about southeast of Cloverdale and on the present-day Sulphur Creek. Today, Calpine Corporation generates power at the site and no Native American groups receive direct financial benefits from the operation.