Yurok Tribe PUE-LIK-LO’ • PEY-CHEEK-LO’ • nER-ER-NER’ TABLE OF CONTENTS

04 Traditional Ways 05 Yurok Village Map 06 A Tragic Past 11 Language Revitalization 12 Ceremonial Revitalization 13 Land Ownership 15 Tribal Government 18 Yurok Timeline

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE Language Program, and the Yurok • Discussions with Yurok elders, FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTORS: Tribe Land Management . cultural and ceremonial people (2006-2007). The Yurok Tribe appreciates Historical Information used in part • U.S. Department of the Interior the support received from from the following sources: Memorandum, 1993. the Administration for Native • Redwood National Park History Basic Americans Social and Economic Data, by Edwin C. Bearss (1969 & Project Overseen by the Yurok Tribal Development Strategies reprint 1982). Council (ANA SEDS). • A Yurok Forest History, Lynn Huntsinger with Sarah McCaffrey, Project Manager: Buffy McQuillen ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Laura Watt, and Michele Lee, Graphics and Layout: Matt Mais University of California at Berkeley Photographs and maps provided by (1994). the following: Phoebe Hearst Museum • Standing Ground, Thomas Buckley of Anthropology, Humboldt State (2002). Cover Photo: Oregos University’s Roberts Collection, Jeanne • Genocide in Northwestern California: Riecke’s family photo collection, Del When our World’s Cried, Jack Norton Norte Historical Society, Yurok Tribe (1979). © Yurok Tribe 2007

Yurok tribe 2 A Message from the Yurok Tribal Council

This booklet is a snapshot of the numerous threats the Tribe has survived and a glimpse into what the Tribe has overcome since initial contact began.

We created this piece of literature because we are frequently asked about our culture; which is not an easy subject to describe. In creating the concept for this booklet we realized that it would be an injustice to our ancestors if we did not describe the history which left our village and religious structure fragmented and our language near the brink of extinction.

In reading this booklet, please recognize that our traditional way of teaching is through an oral process. It is not customary to recite history in this manner, but it is an important step toward educating people who may not have the ability to learn historical accounts or cultural traditions in the way in which it was done prior to non-Indian contact.

For visitors to the Tribe, we hope that you will take the time to learn our history and understand that our cultural traditions are a part of our everyday existence and that our ceremonies continue to be practiced today.

Our language, although somewhat jeopardized by the loss of fluent speakers, continues to be strengthened by eager Yuroks on the path to fluency. Our youth show great promise in restoring our language to the status of being a living language.

As a Tribe we uphold our Constitution’s Preamble in ensuring that we are preserving and promoting our culture, language, and religious beliefs and practices, and passing them on to the future generations of Yurok people.

We encourage you to become more involved with the Tribe by learning more of our history and respecting our right to self-govern.

Wok-hlaw’, The Yurok Tribal Council

© Yurok Tribe 2007

Yurok tribe 3 Traditional Ways Our world

Our world began long before non-Indian exploration and settlement occurred in our area. At one time our people lived in over fifty villages throughout our ancestral territory. The laws, health and spirituality of our people were untouched by non- Indians. Culturally, our people are known as great fishermen, eelers, basket weavers, canoe makers, storytellers, singers, dancers, healers and strong medicine people. Woh-sekw Village in the 1900s. Before we were given the name “Yurok” we referred to ourselves (teas). These foods are essential craftsmanship. and others in our area using our to our people’s health, wellness The primary function of the Indian language. When we refer to and religious ceremonies. Our way canoes is to get people up and ourselves we say Oohl, meaning was never to over harvest and down the river and for ocean Indian people. to always ensure sustainability travel. The canoe is also very When we reference people of our food supply for future important to the White Deerskin from down river on the Klamath generations. Dance, a ceremony recently we call them Pue-lik-lo’ (Down Our traditional family homes rejuvenated. River Indian), those on the and sweathouses are made from The canoes are used to transport upper Klamath and Trinity are fallen keehl (redwood trees) which dancers and ceremonial people. Pey-cheek-lo’ (Up River Indian) and are then cut into redwood boards. The traditional money used by on the coast Ner-‘er-ner’ (Coast Before contact, it was common Yurok people is terk-term (dentalia Indian). for every village to have several shell), which is a shell harvested The Klamath-Trinity River family homes and sweathouses. from the ocean. is the lifeline of our people Today, only a small number of The dentalia used on necklaces because the majority of the food villages with traditional family are most often used in traditional supply, like ney-puy (salmon), homes and sweathouses remain ceremonies, such as the u pyue- Kaa-ka (sturgeon) and kwor-ror intact. wes (White Deerskin Dance), (candlefish) are offered to us from Our traditional stories teach us woo-neek-we-ley-goo (Jump these rivers. that the redwood trees are sacred Dance) and mey-lee (Brush Dance). Also, important to our people living beings. Although, we use It was standard years ago, to are the foods which are offered them in our homes and canoes, use dentalia to settle debts, pay from the ocean and inland areas we also respect redwood trees dowry, and purchase large or such as pee-ee (mussels), chey-gel’ because they stand as guardians small items needed by individuals (seaweed), woo-mehl (acorns), over our sacred places. or families. puuek (deer), mey-weehl (elk), ley- The yoch (canoe) makers are Tattoos on men’s arms measured chehl (berries), and wey-yok-seep recognized for their intuitive the length of the dentalia.

Yurok tribe 4 Yurok Village Map

Yurok tribe 5 A Tragic Past

Exploration and Settlement the Americans traded furs with making their way to the villages of the coastal people. O men and O men hee-puer on the Yurok did not experience non- However, for unknown reasons coast. Indian exploration until much tensions grew and the American Smith’s expedition, though later than other tribal groups in expedition was cut short. The brief, was influential to all other California and the United States. expeditions increased over the trappers and explorers. The One of the first documented next few years and resulted in a reports from Smith’s expedition visits in the local area was by the dramatic decrease of furs in the resulted in more trappers Spanish in the 1500s. area. exploring the area and eventually When Spanish explorers Don By 1828, the area was gaining leading to an increase in Bruno de Heceta and Juan attention because of the non-Indian settlement. Francisco de la Bodega y Cuadra reports back from the American arrived in the early 1700s, they expeditions, despite the news that Gold Rush in Yurok Country intruded upon the people the local terrain was rough. of Chue-rey village. This visit The most well-known trapping By 1849 settlers were quickly resulted in Bodega laying claim expedition of this era was led by moving into Northern California by mounting a cross at Trinidad Jedediah Smith. Smith guided a because of the discovery of gold Head. team of trappers through the local at Gold Bluffs and Orleans. Yurok In the early 1800s, the first area, coming down through the and settlers traded goods and American ship visited the area of Yurok village of Kep’-el, crossing Yurok assisted with transporting Trinidad and Big Lagoon. Initially, over Bald Hills and eventually items via dugout canoe. However,

Fannie Flounder sits on her porch in Rek’-woy.

Yurok tribe 6 A sweat house in Weych-pues Village. this relationship quickly changed of the Yurok people died due to settlers claiming the Indians were as more settlers moved into the massacres and disease, while receiving an excess of valuable area and demonstrated hostility other tribes in California saw a land and resources. toward Indian people. With the 95% loss of life. The Congress rejected the surge of settlers moving treaties and failed to notify the in the government was Treaty Negotiations tribes of this decision. pressured to change laws to While miners established camps Revolts against settlers better protect the Yurok from loss along the Klamath and Trinity of land and assault. Rivers, the federal government In 1855, a group of “vigilante” The rough terrain of the local worked toward finding a Indians (who were known as Red area did not deter settlers in solution to the conflicts, which Cap Indians) initiated a revolt their pursuit of gold. They dramatically increased as each against settlers. moved through the area and new settlement was established. The Red Cap Indians were encountered camps of Indian The government sent Indian believed to be a mix of tribal people. Hostility from both sides agent Redick McKee to initiate groups who were fighting settlers. caused much bloodshed and loss treaty negotiations. Initially, local The Red Cap War nearly of life. tribes were resistant to come brought a halt to the non-Indians The gold mining expeditions together, some outright opposed settlement effort. resulted in the destruction of meeting with the agent. The The government was able to villages, loss of life and a culture treaties negotiated by McKee suppress the Red Cap Indians and severely fragmented. By the end were sent to Congress, which was regained control over the upper of the gold rush era at least 75% inundated with complaints from Yurok Reservation.

Yurok tribe 7 Commercial logging in the 1940s. Formation of Reservations The Federal Government established the Yurok Reservation in 1855 and immediately Yurok people were confined to the area. The Reservation was considerably smaller than the Yurok original ancestral territory. This presented a hardship for Yurok families who traditionally lived in villages along the Klamath River and northern Pacific coastline. When Fort Terwer was established many Yurok families were relocated and forced to learn 1867. Once the Hoopa Valley The government’s response farming and the English language. Reservation was established many was to evict squatters and use In January 1862, the Fort was Yurok people were sent to live military force. Many squatters did washed away by flood waters, there, as were the Mad River, Eel not vacate and waited for military along with the Indian agency at River and Tolowa Indians. intervention, which was slow to Wau-kell flat. Several Yurok people In the years following the come. In the interim, the squatters were relocated to the newly opening of the Hoopa Valley pursued other avenues to acquire established Reservation in Smith Reservation, several squatters on land. River that same year. the Yurok Reservation continued Commercial logging However, the Smith River to farm and fish in the Klamath Reservation was closed in July River. The Fort and Agency were built

Yurok tribe 8 Non-Indian commercial cannery near Rek’-woy. from redwood, which was an abundant resource and culturally significant to Yurok. Non-Indians pursued the timber industry and hired local Indian men to work in the up and coming mills on the Reservation. This industry went through cycles of success, and was largely dependent on the needs of the nation. At the time, logging practices were unregulated and resulted in the contamination of the Klamath River, depletion of (second from left) Fred Riecke and other children attend boarding school in Hoopa. the salmon population and destruction of Yurok village sites and asserted that they did not This form of education and sacred areas. have the right to take fish from continued until the 1860s when the river because it is an inherent the Fort and Agency were washed Commercial canneries right of the Yurok people. away. The Yurok canneries were Yurok education Yurok children, sent to live at established near the mouth of the Hoopa Valley Reservation, the Klamath River beginning in Western education was imposed continued to be taught by 1876. on Yurok children beginning in missionaries. The Yurok people opposed the late 1850s at Fort Terwer and The goal of the missionary style non-Indians taking of the salmon at the Agency Office atWauk-ell. of teaching was to eliminate the

Yurok tribe 9 Boys in Brush Dance regalia in Rek’-woy continued use of cultural and religious teachings and day schools were established on the Yurok that Indian children’s families taught. Reservation. Children were abused by missionaries for using Elders recall getting up early in the morning, the Yurok language and observing cultural and traveling by canoe to the nearest day school and ceremonial traditions. returning home late at night. In the late 1800s children were removed from the The fact that they were at day schools did not Reservation to Chemawa in Oregon and Sherman eliminate the constant pressure to forget their Institute in Riverside, California. language and culture. Today, many elders look back on this period in time Families disguised the practice of teaching as a horrifying experience because they lost their traditional ways, while others succumbed to the connection to their families, and their culture. western philosophy of education and left their Many were not able to learn the Yurok language traditional ways behind. and did not participate in ceremonies for fear of Eventually, Indian children were granted violence being brought against them by non- permission to enroll in public schools. Although they Indians. were granted access, many faced harsh prejudice Some elders went to great lengths to escape from and stereotypes. the schools, traveling hundreds of miles to return These hardships plagued Indian students for home to their families. generations, and are major factors in the decline They lived with the constant fear of being caught of the Yurok language and traditional ways. The and returned to the school. Families often hid their younger generations of Yurok who survived these children when they saw government officials. eras became strong advocates (as elders) for cultural Over time the use of boarding schools declined revitalization.

Yurok tribe 10 Language Revitalization

(left to right) First language Yurok speakers Jimmie James, Eileen Figueroa, Georgiana Trull and Archie Thompson. The use of the Yurok language Range Restoration Plan a Wew Josey Carlson dramatically decreased when survey was completed and Sregon esee Er-ner’ non-Indians settled in the Yurok the results showed that there mey’-wu-me-chokw territory. By the early 1900s were only 20 fluent speakers Her name is Josey the Yurok language was near and 12 semi-fluent speakers Carlson. She is from extinction. of the Yurok language. After a Sregon and Er-ner’. It took less than 40 years for decade of language restoration Carlson is a promising the language to reach that level. activities, the Tribe most recently young Yurok speaker. It took another 70 years for the documented that there are now Yurok language to recover. only 11 fluent Yurok speakers, (bottom) Barbara McQuillen is a Yurok When the language but now have 37 advanced Language teacher. revitalization effort began the speakers, 60 intermediate use of old records helped new speakers and approximately 311 language learners. However, basic speakers. it was through hearing fluent The Yurok Tribe continues to speakers that many young look to new approaches like learners fluency level increased. the use of digital technology, When the Yurok Tribe began internet sites, short stories, and to operate as a formal tribal supplemental curriculum. government a language program The Tribe continues to increase was created. In 1996 the Yurok the number of language Tribe received assistance classes taught on and off the from the Administration for Reservation, at local schools Native Americans (ANA). With for young learners and at the development of a Long community classes.

Yurok tribe 11

Ceremonial Revitalization Similar to other tribal groups in California, Yurok people overcame the destruction of their villages, and assimilation attempts by non-Indians. Many Yurok people went to extreme measures to hold on to their traditional ways. When government policy forbade the use of traditional languages and outlawed the practice of traditional ceremonies, Yurok people continued. Some dances stopped while others were revitalized. Most importantly, the knowledge and beliefs continued and eventually reappeared and have remained constant. The late 1970s and 80s were a time when the revitalization effort soared in the local area. The Woo-neek we-ley-goo (Jump Dance) at Rek’-woy Jump Dance returned to Pek-won in 1984, a War Dance demonstration was held in the late 1980s,

‘ Many Yurok people went to extreme measures to hold on to their traditional ways. When government policy forbade the use of traditional languages and outlawed the practice of traditional ceremonies, Yurok people continued .’

U pyue-wes (White Deerskin Dance) at Weych-pues and communities came together to support the revitalization of Brush Dances along the river and the coast. In the year 2000, the White Deerskin Dance was held again at the village of Weych-pues. For several generations there were times of darkness – no cultural traditions being passed on and the language slowly fading away. With so few Yurok families able to hold onto traditional ways, it appeared as though the attempts to eliminate the cultural traditions would be successful. With the help of many elders (who have since passed on), a glimpse of light began to emerge. Young people who were eager to learn Yurok traditions did so and for the past Mey-lee (Brush Dance) at Rek’-woy twenty years Yurok traditional ceremonies have continued.

Yurok tribe 12 Land Ownership

Prior to1855, the Federal Government established policy which led to Indian people throughout the nation being contained and isolated from the new settlers. Indian people across the nation were abruptly relocated from their traditional homelands and moved onto Indian Reservations. In the case of the Yurok people, the Reservation established for them was within their traditional lands along the Klamath River. However, the Reservation was significantly smaller compared to the ancestral territory which Yurok people inhabited prior to non-Indian settlement. The original Klamath River Reservation was established in 1855. From the mouth of the Klamath River, the strip of territory extended one mile wide on each side of the Klamath River for twenty miles. Between 1864 and 1891 it was widely believed by non-Indian settlers that the Klamath River Reservation was no longer an Indian Reservation. In part, this belief came about because the Federal Government had The Yurok Reservation stretches 40 miles up the Klamath River. contemplated the disposal of reservations that were not authorized under the 1864 Act. Reservation. This area became as isolated and not yet fully In 1891, President Harrison, known as the “Extension” or the populated by settlers, which made issued an Executive Order, which “Addition.” a good alternative for isolating extended the Hoopa Reservation Both the original and extended Indian people. from the mouth of the Trinity River reservation lands did not include The problem with granting to the Pacific Ocean. The order lands where coastal Yurok villages the entire portion of the Yurok connected the Hoopa Reservation were established. ancestral territory was the loss of with the original Klamath River The area slated to become natural resources desired by the Reservation, adding additional the Klamath River Reservation settlers. miles to the Klamath River was viewed by the government With the passage of the Dawes

Yurok tribe 13 Act in 1887, the allotment of Yurok lands began. A significant acreage of Yurok Reservation Ownership of Land 2007 timberland was set aside for the non-Indian settlers of the area. The so-called agricultural land was parceled to Yurok with the instruction to set up farms. By 1891, with the Klamath River Reservation boundary extended, it appeared to settlers that the lands which were so rich in natural resources were unfairly controlled by the Yurok. This created resentment among the non-Indians settling in the area. In 1892, the settlers were Current land holdings on the Yurok Reservation. successful in arguing to Congress that the Yurok Reservation left them without enough land for themselves and Congress passed Allotted acres in trust on the Yurok the Act of 1892. Reservation and connecting strip This act authorized any between 1893-1993. unalloted lands to be put out to public domain for sale or settled Connecting Strip in accordance with the existing Klamath River Res. federal laws. This same year a special agent was sent out to begin making allotments to Indian people living on the Reservation. Of the estimated 55,000 acres of Yurok Reservation land, less than 30,000 acres were allotted to Indian people. The majority of the remaining acres were turned over were outright swindled by settlers. to public domain. In the following The allotment era ended in 1934 years, Indian land ownership with the passage of the Indian ‘Of the estimated 55,000 consistently declined. Reorganization Act. acres of Yurok Reservation As lands were taken out of By this time, though many of the land, less than 30,000 allotment and placed into fee lands had already been removed patent, Indian people struggled from Indian control and held acres were allotted to with the burden of paying taxes privately by timber interests. Indian people.’ and maintaining their family The Yurok Tribe continues to home sites. work toward regaining control of In some instances allotments their Reservation and ancestral 28% of the original territory, the were exchanged for employment lands. work continues to regain ancestral opportunities, while other lands With tribal ownership less than territory.

Yurok tribe 14 Tribal Government

In 1988, the Hoopa-Yurok Settlement Act (HYSA) was passed by Congress. The Act separated the Yurok from the Hoopa Tribe and required the Yurok to form a tribal government. The lands which were once held jointly became partitioned into two reservations. Following the passage of the Hoopa-Yurok Settlement Act, a group of Yurok people were appointed to the Yurok Transition Team. Their tasks include: • Providing assistance to potential members and preparing the settlement roll. • Work toward the establishment of government operations for the Interim Council. • Assist with the development of the Economic Development Plan for Economic Self- Determination. In 1991, the newly formed government, with an enrollment of 2,954 tribal members elected the Interim Council. • Susie Long, Chairperson The Yurok Tribal Administration Office in Klamath, CA. • Maria Tripp, Council it established the following: • Bill of Rights Member • Tribal Territory, Jurisdiction • Recall of Officials • Susan Masten, Council and Authority as a Tribal • Initiative and Referendum Member Government • Amendment • Richard Haberman, Council • Membership • Severability Member • Tribal Council Elections • Effective Date of • Dorothy Haberman, • Duties and Powers of the Constitution and Initial Council Member Tribal Council Election of the Tribal In 1993, the Yurok Tribe’s • Tribal Council Meetings Council Constitution was approved • Annual Membership • Resolution for the through Resolution Number Meeting Certification of the Yurok 93-62. • Tribal Justice System Constitution It is seminal document because • Oath of Office

Yurok tribe 15 The Yurok Tribal Council Chambers in the Klamath Administration office.

Following the passage of the Constitution the first Tribal lands down river, including Coon Creek on the Council election was held on March 17, 1994. Yurok Tribal Klamath River from the Weitchpec District to and Members elected to sit on the first Yurok Tribal Council including Blue Creek on the north side of the were: river and Ah Pah Creek and its drainage area on • Susie Long, Chairperson the south side of the river. The ancestral villages • Maria Tripp, Vice-Chairperson included in this district are Merip, Wa’asel, Ke’p-el, • Larry Hendrix, Orick District Murekw, Himetl, Kohtskuls, Keihkes, Meta, Sregon, • Jessie Exline, South District Yohter, Pekwan, Kolotep, Wohtek, Wohkero, Serper, • Dale Webster, Requa District Ayotl, Nagetl, and Erner. • Michael McConnell, East District 3. Requa District - This district includes ancestral lands • Mary Jackson, North District located downriver on the Klamath River from the • John Logan, Pecwan District Pecwan District and north of the center line of the • Sid Nix, Weitchpec District Klamath River. The ancestral villages included in As the governing body, the Yurok Tribal Council this district are Tlemekwetl, Stawen, Sa’aitl, Ho’pau, consists of nine members, a Tribal Chairperson and a Omenok, Amenok, Tmeri, Rekwoi and Omen. Vice-Chairperson who serve at large and seven Council 4. Orick District - This district includes all ancestral Members who represent seven districts, which are inclusive lands located downriver on the Klamath River from of numerous Yurok villages. the Pecwan District and south of the center line of 1. Weitchpec District - This district includes all the Klamath River. The ancestral villages included ancestral lands located upriver of Coon Creek on in this district are Turip, Wohkel, Otwego, Wetlkwau, the Klamath River. The ancestral villages included Osegen, Espau, Sikwets, Orek, Keihkem, Ma’ats, in this district are Otsepor, Lo’olego, Weych-pues, Opuyweg, Tsurau, Sumeg and Metskwo. Pekwututl, Ertlerger, Wahsekw, Kenek, Tsetskwi, and 5. North District - This district includes all land north of Kenekpul. the ancestral lands, east of the Pacific Ocean, west 2. Pecwan District - This district includes all ancestral of a north-south line passing through Chimney

Yurok tribe 16 The Yurok Tribal office on the eastern portion of the reservation in Weitchpec, CA.

Rock and within 60 miles of governmental ordinances on fishing, departments and programs: the ancestral lands. cultural protection and preservation, 6. East District - This includes land use, social services, enrollment • Administration all land east of the ancestral and elections, and worked toward • Council Support lands, east of a north-south resolution on major tribal initiatives • Cultural Preservation line passing through Chimney such as Hoopa-Yurok Settlement • Economic Development Rock, east of the generally Act, Dam removal, natural resources • Education north-south mountain ridge protection, and land acquisition. • Enrollment passing through Schoolhouse In 2004 the Tribe established its • Finance Peak, and within 60 miles of first economic enterprise, the Pem- • Housing the ancestral lands. mey Fuel Mart, and is now planning • Human Resources 7. South District - This includes a destination resort, gaming facility, • Information Services and Land all land south of the ancestral and cultural center. Management lands, east of the Pacific In 1999, the first tribal office was • Law Enforcement Ocean, west of the generally built on the upper Yurok Reservation • Maintenance north-south mountain ridge in Weitchpec. It serves as the base • Natural Resources (Environmental, passing through Schoolhouse operations for the upriver Yurok Fisheries, Forestry and Watershed. Peak, and within 60 miles of communities. • Planning and Community the ancestral lands. In 2003, the second and central Development The Yurok Tribal Government has tribal office was built in Klamath. • Self Governance enrolled over 5,000 tribal members, The Yurok government administers • Social Services and acquired more than 25% of a wide array of services to the tribal • Tribal Attorney the Reservation lands, developed membership through the following • Tribal Court

Yurok tribe 17 YUROK TIMELINE Noohl Hee-Kon 1851 1861 Noohl Hee-Kon translates to the The Klamath River Peace Treaty Fort Terwer was flooded and beginning of time for Yurok was negotiated at Camp Klamath, many homes were destroyed. people. near the Brush Dance site at Weych-pues. The treaty negotiations were led by the Federal Government’s Indian 1876 1500s Despite Yurok protests, the first Yuroks were living in peace and Agent, Redick McKee, who met non-Indian commercial fishery had little or no contact with with representatives from Yurok, is opened at the mouth of the non-Indians before the Spanish Hoopa, Karuk and other local Klamath. began exploring the Tribe’s tribal village leaders. ancestral territory. 1855 1775 President Franklin Pierce Spanish explorer Juan Francisco de authorized the creation of the Bodega arrives in Yurok Territory at Klamath River Reservation for Trinidad Bay to lay claim to the land the benefit of the Yurok people for the King of Spain. and other Indian people near the Klamath River. 1828 Explorer, Jedediah Smith, finds his 1857 1884 Fort Terwer was established at President Chester Arthur was way to Yurok territory at the south authorized by Congress to fork of the Trinity River. Smith and Terwer Creek to keep peace between the Indians and the establish four Indian Reservations, his men followed the river through one of which was the Hoopa Valley the rough terrain to the Pacific growing number of miners and traders trying to move Reservation, where many Yurok Ocean at the mouth of Wilson and other local Indians were sent Creek. onto the Klamath River Military Reservation. to live. 1849 1887 Miners and prospectors began 1860s The first documented account The last “First Salmon Ceremony” to arrive in the Klamath Basin in of the word “Yourrk” came from happened at Wehl-kwew. The search of gold. George Gibbs, who was traveling ceremony was conducted at at the time with Col. Redick McKee. the mouth of the Klamath River The Karuk word Yuruq-arar means before the year’s first salmon was down-stream people. caught and eaten.

Yurok tribe 18 YUROK TIMELINE 1887 1892 1906 The federal government’s General Congress enacted legislation The Burke Act maintained Allotment Act (Dawes Act) was allotting lands of the former that any Indian allottee found passed. This act allotted lands Klamath River Military competent and capable of to Indian people throughout Reservation to Yuroks. managing his or her own affairs the nation and locally along the Under the Dawes Act, Congress could obtain a patent in fee Klamath River. The long lasting allowed for “surplus” land upon simple and it allowed the trust impact of the Act was a major loss the Reservation to be sold to the period to be extended for of land for Indian people. general public. those Indians found to be “not competent.” An Indian was seen as competent if they had greater 1893 than one-half white blood, had 1889 Indian allotments were granted received a year or more of white Squatters were appearing on the on the original Klamath River schooling or if they were able to Klamath River in large numbers. Military Reservation lands. These read or write English and were 21 By this time nearly every square allotments varied from 8 to years of age or older. foot of land from the mouth 160 acres, averaging 60 acres of the Klamath River, reaching and totaling 9,790 acres. Three inland for twenty miles, had been traditional villages including, Rek’- taken by non-Indians. 1910 woy, Hop-ew and Saa’ totaling 70 The U.S. Secretary of the Interior acres, were set aside as reserves was authorized to sell land owned for the Klamath People. The by Indian allottees who died 1890s remaining acres of the Klamath before the 25 year expiration of Four Klamath allotments were River Military Reservation were their trust period without the used for a cannery established returned to public domain for consent of all their heirs, upon by A. Bomhoff near Requa. In homesteading. showing that one or more of the exchange for the land, Bomhoff heirs were deemed “incompetent” agreed to hire only Indian to manage their own affairs. fishermen and workers in the Three hundred and seven parcels cannery. were sold in this manner. 1891 By Executive Order, President 1912 Benjamin Harrison extended The Last White Deer Skin the Hoopa Valley Reservation to Dance occurred at Weych- include a tract of land one-mile in pues. width on each side of the Klamath River from the confluence of the Trinity River to the shores of the Pacific. This tract of land is now the Yurok Reservation.

Yurok tribe 19 1917 1925 1934 The Commissioner of Indian The BIA compiled a list of “com- The Indian Reorganization Act Affairs announced a “policy petent” Indians on the “connect- extended the trust period for of greater liberalism”. This ing strip” in anticipation of the allotments from 25 years to allowed the U.S. Secretary of expiration of their allotment trust indefinitely, stopped issuing Interior to issue fee patents to periods. Another large group of Indian allotments and annulled allottees, resulting in allotted allotments were then taken out of their authority to sell “surplus” lands being removed from trust trust. reservation lands, and instead status whether the allottees had moved toward efforts of returning In 1925, Copco 2 Dam was con- requested the removal or not. these lands to Indian people. structed a quarter-mile down- Subsequently, many allotments stream to regulate flows from were taken out of trust and The Klamath River Indians were Copco 1 Dam on the Klamath subject to taxation by Humboldt banned from commercial fishing River. and Del Norte Counties. Shortly and gill-netting. Despite the thereafter, allottees began losing ban, Yurok people continued to allotments for non-payment of fish, but did so under the threat back taxes. 1931 of being arrested and jailed. The Forest Service, in creating the “Redwood National Forest”, 1918 established a Redwood Forest Copco 1 Dam was built on the Acquisition Program targeting Klamath River. It permanently reservation lands, including 780 blocked more than 300 miles of acres of the Klamath River Military steelhead and salmon habitat Reserve and 2,110 acres of Indian in the main stem of the upper allotments for acquisition. Klamath and its tributaries. The State of California banned all An excess of allotted Indian forms of tribal traditional burning lands were removed from trust practices. along the Klamath River, but a large portion was not put into fee patent even though the 25 year trust period had expired.

Yurok tribe 20 1958 1966 Revenues from the unalloted Elser v. Gill Net Number One trust timberlands of the Hoopa held that Yurok Indians, Square were dispersed in per specifically Grover Reed and capita payments to Hoopa Tribal Dewey George were enrolled members (later determined to members of a recognized tribe be erroneous in the Jesse Short and had recognized tribal rights, case). thereby meeting the tribal roll requirements which exempted them from provisions of the Fish 1939 1960 and Game Code. Furthermore, the Last Jump Dance held in Pek-won Logging by non-Indian timber State of California had no right to before it was revitalized in the companies consumed nearly 90 regulate Yuroks’ practice of gill net 1980s. percent of the original redwood fishing on the Yurok Reservation. forest in Yurok Ancestral territory. 1953 1968 Many Indians in the region Redwood National Park was were encouraged to sell their 1962 created by Congress and later allotments through questionable The 173-foot high Iron Gate dam expanded in 1978. The National and forced fee patents, resulting was constructed to run a 20 Park Service took over possession in at least 60 percent of the lands mega-watt power plant. of three individual allotments that being taken out of trust and sold were along the south end of the to logging companies, which lower Klamath River. were booming after World War II. 1963 Yuroks protest the U.S Forest The Jessie Short case was filed Service’s plan to connect roads against the United States on leading into sacred sites between 1955 behalf of 16 Yurok Indians. The Gasquet and Orleans (G-O Road). The Trinity River Act allowed the lawsuit, which later named 3,222 construction of the Trinity River plaintiffs, asserted that the Yurok Dam. The Trinity is the Klamath Tribal Members should share 1970 River’s largest tributary. proceeds from the selling of The Northwest Indian Cemetery timber on the original Hoopa Protective Association (NICPA) is Valley Reservation. formed to protect burial grounds and sacred sites. Several Yurok people were a part of the NICPA leadership and worked toward 1964 protecting cultural and ceremonial The worst flood in recorded sites in Yurok Ancestral Territory. history occurred on the Klamath River, wiping out the town of Klamath and many houses in low-lying areas.

Yurok tribe 21 1973 1978 1988 Jessie Short Et. Al. v. The United The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The Hoopa-Yurok Settlement States concluded that the Yurok implemented a moratorium on Act partitioned the former “Joint Reservation was not a separate commercial gill net fishing on Reservation” and recognized and entity, but actually an extension the Klamath, starting what is established traditional Yurok of the Hoopa Valley Reservation known as the “Fish Wars,” between Indian homelands as the Yurok and therefore Yurok Tribal the Yurok and the federal Reservation. Members were entitled to equal government. rights to income from timber The U.S. Supreme Court hears the sales on allotted trust lands. case Lyng v. NICPA, the historic case filed to protect the First Amendment right to free practice of religion.

1973 Puzz v. United States affirmed the Mattz v. Arnett upheld that the previous decision for the Hoopa Reservation was still considered Valley to receive consent from the “Indian Country.” The case was Yuroks in the distribution of the filed as a result of the State escrowed timber sale proceeds. of California trying to assert jurisdiction to regulate Indian fishers on the Klamath River. The 1984 court determined that California The 1984 California Wilderness 1989 had no such jurisdiction. Act Passed, which set aside a The Smith River Wilderness area wilderness area on a part of Blue was set aside as wilderness and Creek, which stopped it from recreation land, which protected being logged. the G-O Road corridor in the 1976 sacred high country. Arnett v. 5 Gill Nets held that The Jump Dance is revitalized in the state of California lacked Pek-won. The dance is held every jurisdiction to regulate Indian other year. fishing on the Reservation and that Yurok Indians had a right to commercial fishing practices. This gave Yurok commercial fishers federally protected fishing rights.

Yurok tribe 22 1993 2000 2007 Twenty acres of the former In December 2000, the Secretary The Yurok Tribal Council voted Weitchpec Bar Mining Claim near of Interior signed the Record 6-0 in favor of signing the Weych-pues was returned to tribal of Decision (ROD) regarding conditional waiver of claims trust due to a surveying problem Trinity River Main Stem Fishery against the federal government, near Kep’-el and a discrepancy Restoration. The ROD provides thus concluding their portion of as to where the end of the for increased Trinity River flow, the Hoopa-Yurok Settlement Act. Reservation line is at Weych-pues. as well as channel rehabilitation, The United States Department of sediment management, and the Interior determined the Yurok The Yurok Tribe formally watershed restoration activities; Tribe would receive the entire organized and adopted a all efforts to address the degraded portion of the settlement funds Constitution under its inherent fisheries habitat that resulted from the Hoopa-Yurok Settlement powers of self-governance. from construction and operations Act. The Department of the Interior of the Central Valley Project’s recognized the Constitution and Trinity River Division in the early the Yurok Tribal Council as the 1960s. governing body of the Yurok 2008 The Yurok Tribe, along with Tribe. The White Deerskin Dance is revitalized in Weych-pues. The commercial ocean fishermen, dance is held every other year. farmers and environmentalists, developed a plan to restore the Klamath River fisheries. The 1994 plan calls for the largest dam The Yurok Tribe assumed respon- removal project in history. It also sibility over the management of gives farmers reliable water and its fisheries from the Bureau of electricity. Indian Affairs and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Yurok Tribe is currently the largest Tribe in California, with more than 5,000 enrolled members. The Tribe provides 1996 numerous services to the local The 1,850 Jessie Short plaintiffs 2002 community and membership with received their final payments In September, over 60,000 its more than 200 employees. The from the Jessie Short Case deci- migrating adult salmon died in Tribe’s major initiatives include: sion, with the exception of those the Klamath River on their way to the Hoopa-Yurok Settlement Act, individuals whose estates were spawn. The disaster was caused dam removal, natural resources not probated. by two pathogens common in protection, sustainable economic the river. Low flows and high development enterprises and concentrations of fish spread land acquisition. the disease, which caused the unprecedented devastation to the Yurok fishery. The fish kill has led to the Yurok Tribe’s concerted effort to remove the dams on the upper Klamath River.

Yurok tribe 23 yUROK tRIBE 190 Klamath Blvd. • Klamath, CA 95548 Phone (707) 482-1350 • Fax (707) 482-1377 WWW.YUROKTRIBE.ORG