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26-568: The Wailaki name was Tul'bush ("foreigners"), the Cahto name was Diideeʾ-kiiyaahaangn ("The North Tribe"). The Bear River Indians called themselves and the Mattole Ni'ekeni' . The Mattole spoke the Mattole language , an Athabaskan language that may have been closely related to that of their Eel River neighbors to the east. According to linguist Victor Golla, the last surviving person who could speak

52-717: A 1770 population for the Nongatl , Sinkyone , and Lassik as 2,000, and the population of the Wailaki as 1,000. Sherburne F. Cook (1976) suggested a total of 4,700 for the Nongatl, Sinkyone, Lassik, Wailaki, Mattole, and Kato. Martin A. Baumhoff (1958) estimated the aboriginal populations as 2,325 for the Nongatl, 4,221 for the Sinkyone, 1,411 for the Lassik, and 2,760 for the Wailaki, or a total of 10,717 for

78-575: A mile up from Asbill Creek; East side Eel River between Cottonwood Creek and Yuki border (around Blue Rock Creek)) Che-teg-gah-ahng or Pitch Wailaki (North Fork Eel from a mile up from Asbill Creek all the way up to Lassik border (at Salt Creek); includes Hull's Creek and Casoose Creek) Northern Bands (Kekawaka and allies, neither Wailaki nor Lassik; language like Wailaki, not Lassik) (both sides Eel River north of Boulder Creek on east side and Chamise Creek on west; north to Lassik border (around Kekawaka Creek)) The Sinkyone, with about 70 villages, had

104-516: A population of 29 in the 2000 census. The most recent US Census Bureau tabulation in 2010 reported that there were 14 members. The Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria (Mattole River, Eel River (Wailaki), Bear River and Wiyot People) is now organized as a federally recognized tribe . It is located Humboldt County, California. The Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria currently has 525 Enrolled Tribal Citizens, and enrollment into

130-676: The Wailaki , Lassik , Nongatl , and Sinkyone (Sinkine) groups of Native Americans that traditionally live in present-day Mendocino, Trinity, and Humboldt counties on or near the Eel River and Van Duzen River of northwestern California . These groups speak dialects of the Wailaki language belonging to the Pacific Coast Athapaskan group of the Athapaskan language family which is prominently represented in Alaska , western Canada , and

156-661: The southwestern U.S. Other related Athapaskan groups neighboring the Eel River Athapaskans included the Hupa - Whilkut - Chilula to the north, the Mattole on the coast to the west, and the Kato to the south. The Whilkut, Nongatl and Lassik were essentially annihilated during the Bald Hills War in the 1860s. Some Wailaki people are registered members of Round Valley Indian Tribes . The Nongatl ( Hupa word meaning "Athapaskan to

182-528: The 1770 population of the Mattole at 500. Sherburne F. Cook estimated the combined populations of the Mattole, Whilkut, Nongatl, Sinkyone, Lassik, and Kato at 4,700, at least 50% higher than Kroeber's figure for the same groups. Martin A. Baumhoff estimated the aboriginal Mattole-Bear River population as 2,476. The Mattole federal reservation, the Rohnerville Rancheria , located south of Eureka , reported

208-675: The Bear River Band is based on lineal descent and residency of the rancheria. The Bear River Band is governed by a Tribal Council, composed of seven members elected to four year terms. The current Chairwoman is Josefina Cortez and the current Vice Chairman is Edwin Smith. The tribe publishes the Bear River Bulletin newspaper for its members and also provides various services for the wellbeing of its members such as, social services, housing, economic development, and even daycare. The tribe operates

234-666: The Bear River Casino, also in Loleta. The Bear River Band is continuously trying to protect their cultural resources and ancestral territory. The Tribal Historic Officer (THPO) is in charge of the Tribal Historic Preservation Plans, which “emphasize the importance of the oral tradition, as well as consulting Tribal elders and spiritual leaders with special knowledge of the Tribe's traditions. They also have given emphasis to

260-992: The Eel River south of Kekawaka Creek and the North Fork Eel River in three main subdivisions: Tsennahkenne or Tsen-nah-ken-ne (Eel River Wailaki or Mainstem Eel River band); Bahneko or Bah-ne-ko keah (North Fork [Eel River] Wailaki or North Fork Eel River band); and Che-teg-gah-ahng (Pitch Wailaki or Pitch band) (located farther up the North Fork of the Eel River). These regional groupings were divided into several bands and contained almost 100 villages: Tsennahkenne , Tsen-nah-ken-ne or Eel River Wailaki (both sides Eel River from Boulder Creek to Cottonwood Creek, then West side south to Yuki border (around Blue Rock Creek)) Bahneko , Bah-ne-ko keah or North Fork [Eel River] Wailaki (both sides North Fork Eel from its mouth to about

286-529: The Mattole language died in the 1950s. Historically, the Mattole lived along the Mattole River in the valley of Humboldt County, northwestern California. The Mattole lived in the area for a few centuries, but carbon dating revealed that many native tribes have inhabited the land for over 6000 years. Earliest accounts say that the Mattole have been in the region of the Bear River tribe since the 16th century. From

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312-434: The Mattole, conduct toward waves is prescribed: That water watches you and has a definite attitude, favorable or otherwise towards you. Do not speak just before a wave breaks. Do not speak to passing rough water in a stream. Do not look at water very long for any one time, unless you have been to this spot ten times or more. Then the water there is used to you and does not mind if you're looking at it. Older men can talk in

338-481: The Wailaki in its phonology. The majority of them perished during the first few years of the occupancy of their country by white people, a bounty being placed on their heads and the traffic in children for slaves being profitable and unrestrained. A few families of them are still living in the neighborhood of their former homes. The Wailaki ( Wintun term meaning "north language.") or in their own language Kinist'ee ("the people") lived in northwestern California, along

364-574: The constant fighting, the Mattole Valley Treaty of Peace was established. Although the treaty seemed to be keeping the peace among both groups, it eventually became useless in 1859 when the reservation was no longer considered a reservation and more white settlers were coming in. Estimates for the pre-contact populations of most native groups in California have varied substantially. (See Population of Native California .) Alfred L. Kroeber put

390-848: The four Eel River Athapaskan groups. Kroeber estimated the combined population of the Nongatl, Sinkyone, and Lassik in 1910 as 100, and the population of the Wailaki as 200. Today, some Wailaki people are enrolled in the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California , the Grindstone Indian Rancheria of Wintun-Wailaki Indians , and the Round Valley Indian Tribes of the Round Valley Reservation (formerly: Covelo Indian Community Yuki, Wailaki, Concow, Little Lake Pomo, Nomlacki, and Pit River peoples). Sherburne F. Cook Sherburne Friend Cook (1896–1974)

416-573: The headwaters of the North Fork Eel River and Mad River . They had for neighbors toward the north the Whilkut inhabitants of the valley of Mad River and Redwood Creek; toward the east the Wintu of South Fork Trinity River ; toward the south the Wailaki, from whom they were separated by Kekawaka Creek; toward the west the Sinkyone (Sinkine) on Southfork of Eel River. Their dialect resembles the Hupa in its morphology and

442-490: The importance of protecting 'traditional cultural properties,' places that are eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places because of their association with cultural practices and beliefs that are: (1) rooted in the history of the community; and, (2) are important to maintaining the continuity of that community's traditional beliefs and practices”. Wailaki The Eel River Athapaskans include

468-400: The land along the Eel River and South Fork Eel River , and a portion of coastline from Spanish Flat south. The Wailaki weave the roots and leaves of Carex into baskets and use the leaves to weave mats. Estimates for the pre-contact populations of most native groups in California have varied substantially. (See Population of Native California .) Alfred L. Kroeber (1925:883) proposed

494-581: The mid-16th to the 19th centuries, the Mattole resided at the coast near the mouth of the river. The Mattole were only permanent residents of a particular area through the winter months. For the most part, however, the Mattole people traveled in single family bands, traveling as necessary according to food abundance and better climate conditions—an easy feat with California's many microclimates. Aboriginal Bear River villages included Tcalko', Chilsheck, Chilenche, Selsche'ech, Tlanko, Estakana, and Sehtla. The Mattole’s main food source has always been salmon. Salmon

520-499: The most part however, the Mattole people would travel in single family bands where necessary according to food abundance and better climate conditions, an easy feat with California’s many microclimates. As warmer seasons set in the Mattole Valley, the Mattole would separate into their primary familial groups, becoming gatherers of vegetation more so than hunters as they would in colder months. As James Roscoe observed, "the simple family

546-601: The presence of the water because they have been about so long that the water knows them. Until the water at any spot does know you, however, it becomes very rough if you talk in its presence or look at it too long . In the mid- to late-19th century, tensions rose between white settlers and the Native Americans. In 1856 the Mendocino reservation was established for the Indian tribes. It ranged from Mendocino county to Bear River. When

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572-540: The south") lived traditionally in the territory around the Van Duzen River, from its outlet on the Eel River to its headwaters near Dinsmore, California , and along Yager Creek and Larabee Creek (Elsasser 1978; Golla 2011). They had at least 35 villages. The Lassik ( Las'-sik , the name of their last chief) had about 20 villages and occupied a portion of main Eel River south to Kekawaka Creek, and its east tributaries, Van Duzen River, Larabee, and Dobbyn creeks, as well

598-511: The white settlers began establishing their homes in the Mattole valley in 1857, there was much conflict among the Indian tribes. The white settlers argued that the reservation was claiming lands that it should not be. The Mattole felt threatened because the white settlers were moving into their area and taking their women. The white settlers and Indian tribes—including the Mattole, were ruthlessly killing each other. Prison camps housed many Mattole and other Native Americans. On September 4, 1858, amidst

624-438: Was a main food source because the Mattole were located along the Mattole river, which was abundant with Salmon. This also meant that the Mattole did not travel far from the river because that would mean abandoning their food source. From the beginning of the tribe’s 16th-century arrival in what is now Humboldt County, Mattole villages were essentially collective groups of families settling in close proximity over winter months. For

650-759: Was an American physiologist and demographist , who served as professor and chairman of the department of physiology at the University of California, Berkeley . He was notable as a pioneer in population studies of the native peoples of North America and Mesoamerica and in field methods and quantitative analysis in archaeology . Born and raised in Massachusetts, Cook earned his B.S. degree at Harvard University in 1919. During World War I , he served in France. He returned to Harvard for graduate studies, earning his M.A. in 1923, and completing his Ph.D. thesis, The Toxicity of

676-419: Was by far the single most important social unit in Mattole society." Tribes dealt with politics by electing tribesmen according to wealth and problem-solving skills rather than through bloodlines; These “chiefs,” as they were later named, weren’t complete rulers, but leaders of a democracy who made suggestions that would be taken into account by the rest of the tribe and decided upon through popular vote. Among

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