LOCAL NORTHWEST TRIBES

Sources: BIA edition 2000, California Indian Trust Land William Bright, 1957. The Karok Lanugage. UCPL 13.,

LOCAL NW CALIFORNIA TRIBES-- The , The are south along the coast from Trinidad , , Wiyot and Tribes remain on past Eureka to Ferndale, encompassing Arcata and their traditional homelands to this day. While Humboldt Bays, the lower , and the sharing a similar cultural framework, each of these lower Eel River. The Karuk lands are along the Tribes has a wholly distinct Tribal language. The Klamath above Yurok territory further up river to Little River is the boarder between the homelands beyond Happy Camp, and along the Salmon River; of the Wiyot and Yurok peoples. The Tolowa are the Hupa are from the Trinity River just before the from the extreme northern coast, from the junction with the Klamath, especially through the southwestern corner of Oregon to approximately north-south section called Hoopa Valley and south fifteen miles south of Crescent City at Wilson to Grouse Creek. The Tsnugwe people come from Creek. The Yurok come from the coast, from this the Trinity River area from Willow Creek through point south to just below Trinidad Bay, and up the the Burnt Ranch area. The and Whilkut Klamath River, extending about 45 miles to just were smaller tribes that inhabited warm interior before Bluff Creek, where Karuk Territory begins valleys close to Redwood Creek and the Mad River as well as a short distance south along the Trinity. watershed. Rev 4/13 spectators seated on benches around the pit, also pray and help in the spiritual treatment of the child.

BASKETRY Native people from this region excel in basketry. Weaving and use of baskets has always been a main element of the cultures of California tribes. Our baskets are of the twined, woven type and are tight enough that they can hold water for cooking. These tribes make a wide variety The natural environment, the rivers, mountains and of baskets from daily use oceans forge the cultural backbone of these people. such as baby baskets, collecting vessels, food Living on the abundance of foods, such as acorns, bowls, cooking items, ceremonial items and we also salmon, deer meat and berries life here was make basket caps, which are worn by both women remarkably untouched by contact with western and also men, if open weave. society until the discovery of gold in 1849. The quest for gold did not last long and our people live GAMBLING & STICK GAME in one of the few areas that remain culturally intact Gambling is a typical and for the most part were separated from the traditional recreational influence of America until the early 1900’s. Our activity for local native Tribes have a connection to our homelands, people. In pre-contact language and ceremonies that, unfortunately, is not times men would gamble the norm for a majority of Native peoples. each evening and continuing singing in the RELIGION AND CEREMONIES sweathouse, which served The religion of the local people is based on as their lodgings (men and individual effort through ritual cleanliness and women slept separately). Gambling today is still ceremonies that include the entire tribe. The Tribes common. In the most popular game, players hide of this region practice the annual World Renewal sticks, one specially marked, behind their backs. Ceremonies, such as the The opponents attempt to guess which hand holds Karuk Pikyavish, the Tolowa the marked stick. Gambling, like many activities, is Nee-dash, the Hupa and spiritually based and being “lucky” is more a Yurok White Deerskin reflection of the quality of your character than an Dance and most Tribes association with random chance. perform the Sacred Jump Dance. The purpose of the Our peoples also ceremonies are to renew the play an energetic world or “fix the earth”, as fun endurance and one tribe described it. This strength game in includes songs and dances which men or that have been preserved for boys use carved countless generations. Most sticks, with a of these rituals are considered to have connection small “hook” to with medicine. Medicine included not only that try to throw a which was administered to cure sickness, but "tossel" (two small wooden blocks attached by a anything; root, herb, stick, or bark that is used to cord) across opposing goal lines despite the very promote physical, mental and spiritual health. The physical interference of the other team. Brush Dance is a both a social event and a healing ceremony in which the people of the local Tribes This paper presented by André Cramblit©, Karuk dance, sing, make medicine and pray in order to Tribe. Any mistakes are mine and please let me bless or heal a sick child or infant. The dance takes know so I can change them. [email protected] place in a Brush Dance pit, and it involves men, boys and young girls. The herbal healing ceremony includes singing, chanting, rhythmic dancing For more in-depth information please see around the medicine fire in the pit and jumping http://library.humboldt.edu/~berman/nas.htm center to confront the evil or sickness. The Rev 4/13