396:- Pit River bands of indigenous natives were living in abundance for thousands of years. For thousands of years, numerous indigenous villages were situated around and along Achoma (the Pit River) and out onto the surrounding plains, hills, mountains, and valleys. The people utilized the natural resources of their land to the fullest. In addition to harvesting deer, salmon, trout, rabbit, birds, and other small mammals, they often moved around their territory and gathered acorns, roots, herbs, and fruits, as each came into their season.
468:
land went on sale in 1878, and allowed the purchase of up to 160 acres at $ 2.50 an acre. Outlying areas were victim to a speculative boom as a result, and large tracts of land passed into private hands. The area was subsequently heavily logged. The over-harvesting of timber in Big Bend region remains an ecological problem today. Most of the once vast and diverse forests in the area have been destroyed by clear-cutting and other industrial logging practices and replaced by tree farms.
360:"... for the purpose of securing our Rights and Powers inherent in our Sovereign status as reinforced by the laws of the United States, developing and protecting Pit River (Ajumawi - Atsugewi) ancestral lands and all other resources, preserving peace and order in our community, promoting the general welfare of our people and our descendants, protecting the rights of the Tribe and of our members, and preserving our land base, culture and identity, ..."
77:
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confiscated. Many "Pit Rivers" were displaced against their will, and some were murdered for their land. Some returned or resettled nearby when they could, but countless people were cut off from their extended families and their traditional food sources. Into the 1900s, many Pit River people survived in poverty and some were hired out as ranch hands, mill workers, forestry workers, and other forms of manual labor.
400:
River). They led a somewhat nomadic life, following opportunities to harvest foods from the rich resources of this valley, and ready to move to higher ground when the creeks and rivers flooded in the rainy season. Archaeological evidence and some information collected by ethnographers in the early 1900s gives only minimal details of the thriving culture and communities that existed in the vast Pit River territory.
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Burney, CA) with a tribal council that includes representation of each of the eleven bands making up the Pit River Nation. The tribe operates several "Rancheria" and allotment "satellite" reservations, a casino, a gas station and convenience store, and a large commercial cannabis growing facility which was raided by US and
California drug agents in July 2015.
467:
By 1868, the US Army under
General George Crook took control of many upriver Achoma areas. Many stories of brutal massacres and senseless racist killings of Pit River people have been handed down through the oral tradition. The Pit River area was also impacted by economic factors. Government timber
463:
In 1859, 700 captured Pit River
Indians were forcibly taken to the Round Valley Reservation in Mendocino County for internment. The number of soldiers reported killed in the attacks varies; one account mentions 25, while another mentions 90. The main war ended in 1859. Although the vast majority of
444:
The movement of white emigrants into Pit River territory caused more and more Pit River displacement and changes to the environment. The emigrants often had no respect for the delicate balance of nature, grazing their cattle and horses in prime hunting and gathering areas. A steady flow of emigrants
459:
Here is one account of some of those ruthless attacks: "War was declared on the
Indians in 1858. General William Kibbe and Captain I. G. Messec led military and civilian soldiers against the Indians from Trinity County all the way to the Fall River Valley. These soldiers were known as Kibbe's Guards
403:
Pit River artists and craftspeople apparently used both basalt and much obsidian from Glass
Mountain to make tools and weapons. Obsidian arrowheads and obsidian flakes from tool-making have been found all over the valley from the river banks to the hillsides and high in mountain hunting camp areas.
479:
Today, the Pit River people continue to live in what is now called Shasta County, as well as throughout the West. Some continue to hunt and gather in their traditional places, and pray at their sacred sites throughout their homeland. They are a federally recognized tribe (headquarters located in
455:
Regionally (intensifying in the mid 1850s), the
European invaders ruthlessly and tragically destroyed most of the Pit River natives, and their way of life. The Pit Rivers (and virtually all California indigenous bands) were repeatedly abused, killed, and brutally massacred, as the invaders raided
475:
In 1974, the Pitt River tribe claimed almost one million acres of land that was then held by
Pacific Gas & Electric Co, Southern Pacific Railroad, the Hearst Corporation, the Los Angeles Times, and four other companies. However, despite the judge presiding over the case agreeing that the Pit
471:
The arrival of
European-American settlers and the occupation of the Pit River territories disrupted the safety of the Pit River people and their traditional food supply. The Pit River people never signed a treaty with the United States or the State of California; their land was simply illegally
364:
While the Pit River group originally filed a separate land claims, after the Indian Claims
Commission was created in 1946, the Pit River tribe was encouraged in 1963 to participate in the larger claims—Indians of California vs U. S. – but ultimately there was disharmony within the tribe and they
399:
Before the
European-American immigration, the Native Americans of the Pit River region were thriving. The eleven bands in the region had similarities and differences in their language and ways. Some downriver bands lived in simple pit houses in small familial villages along Achoma (aka, the Pit
451:
European-American immigrant expansion interest and activity in Pit River region began. USA government, military forces, and settlers invaded, attacked, displaced, and killed the majority of Pit River Indians, with no treaties or compensation made for land seized.
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Pit River Indians had been killed or forcibly moved out of the area, some remained, hidden away, and over 500 of those who were sent away eventually returned to their homeland, only to find white settlers taking over more and more property.
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and were ruthless, efficient Indian killers." Many Indians surrendered under the threat of death or starvation, others were captured, untold numbers were killed, and their villages and food supplies were destroyed in the battles.
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U.S. Congress and California Legislature created various laws that deny Indians of land rights and effectively extinguished all aboriginal title in the state, paving the way for continued
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to create a sort of body armor, the wood was made into a heavy robe or overcoat and corset armor and used for fighting. Members of the Pit River tribe would also sell
909:
348:. They were officially recognized as a tribe in 1976 and ratified their constitution in 1987. Each of the eleven bands is represented in the tribal council.
574:
775:
Chestnut, V. K. 1902 Plants Used by the Indians of Mendocino County, California. Contributions from the U.S. National Herbarium 7:295-408. (p. 305)
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Merriam, C. Hart 1966 Ethnographic Notes on California Indian Tribes. University of California Archaeological Research Facility, Berkeley (p. 222)
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The bulbs dug from meadows and acorns from oaks were an important source of food. A ground up form of these plants were stored for winter use.
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814:
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village after village in countless incidents, including some more well-known battles, such as the "Wintoon War" and the "Pit River War"...
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Gold Rush begins, bringing a new huge wave of migrants into California, many of whom were ruthless abusers and murderers of Indian people.
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arrived determined to occupy Pit River land and began the process of confiscating and fencing off the land.
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California became part of U.S.A. through Treaty of Hidalgo with Mexico (in 1850 California became a state).
325:
307:
571:
263:
Most members of the tribe now speak English. Achumawi is critically endangered, and Atsugewi is extinct.
531:
257:
656:
756:
Henry, Jeannette (July 1974). "Pitt River Tribe Seeks Return of One Million Acres of California Land".
248:
The eleven bands of the Pit River Tribe originally spoke two related languages, nine of them speaking
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726:
613:
377:
Map of the Pit River course and watershed in northeastern California. The Pit is a tributary of the
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In August 1964, a Constitution was formally adopted by the Pit River Tribe. The Preamble states:
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European-American/Canadian fur trappers and explorers began passing through the Pit River area
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River tribe had not received justice and that the loss of land was wrong, rejected the case.
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North American Women Artists of the Twentieth Century: A Biographical Dictionary
681:"American Indian tribes turn to technology in race to save endangered languages"
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New technology, the bow and arrow, is introduced into the Pit River area.
256:(Atsuge and Apwaruke). They are closely related and are classified as the
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156:. Their name also is spelled as "Pitt River" in some historical records.
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123:
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190:
384:
Overview of Some Prehistoric and Historic Events and Periods:
861:
A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples
438:, with no treaties or protections for the Pit River Indians.
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Many Pit River natives died from imported disease epidemics.
882:
582:
San Diego State University Library and Information Access.
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The Atsugewi have 68 documented uses for various plants.
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family of languages, with uncertain external relations.
657:"Indian Woman Is Last Word on Language of the Atsugewi"
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Native American tribes in Mendocino County, California
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Tribe: Atsugewi- Native American Ethnobotany Database
117:
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87:
64:
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803:Jules Heller; Nancy G. Heller (19 December 2013).
925:Native American tribes in Lake County, California
915:Federally recognized tribes in the United States
271:The tribe is spread across several locations in
49:, one of the bands of the Pit River Tribe, 1923
541:also indigenous peoples of the Pit River basin
352:Constitution of the Pit River Tribe and claims
8:
33:
292:, Modoc County, 1.32 acres, tribal cemetery
572:California Indians and Their Reservations.
521:Darryl Babe Wilson, writer and storyteller
39:
32:
863:. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.
310:, Shasta County, 80 acres, population: 14
304:, Shasta County, 72 acres, population: 15
286:, Shasta County, 40 acres, population: 10
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298:, Modoc County, 40 acres, population: 10
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45:Istet Woiche, tribal historian of the
727:"Constitution of the Pit River Tribe"
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910:Native American tribes in California
617:Constitution of the Pit River Tribe.
65:Regions with significant populations
890:Constitution of the Pit River Tribe
324:The tribe also owns trust lands in
746:Evans, 1994: 455–56; Jaimes, 1987.
25:
655:Hillinger, Charles (1988-08-23).
344:The tribe conducts business from
320:, 9,254.86 acres, population: 40.
164:The eleven bands are as follows:
619:July 2005 (retrieved 3 Feb 2011)
148:. They primarily live along the
146:indigenous peoples of California
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365:rejected their monetary award.
336:, Modoc, and Shasta Counties.
1:
130:, and other Pit River bands
603:Hewisidawe, Pit River Tribe
584:2010 (retrieved 3 Feb 2011)
152:in the northeast corner of
113:traditional tribal religion
18:Pit River Tribe, California
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302:Montgomery Creek Rancheria
142:federally recognized tribe
27:Tribe of indigenous people
945:Shasta County, California
930:Lassen County, California
790:December 1, 2023, at the
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940:Modoc County, California
835:Native American Authors
636:. Ethnologue (17th ed.)
436:genocide and land theft
326:Lake County, California
308:Roaring Creek Rancheria
381:
362:
532:Pitt River Expedition
388:Approximately 200 AD:
376:
358:
118:Related ethnic groups
831:"Darryl Babe Wilson"
859:Pritzker, Barry M.
614:"Article I - Name."
172:(Achumawi, Ajumawi)
144:of eleven bands of
35:
577:2010-07-26 at the
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346:Burney, California
284:Big Bend Rancheria
267:Population centers
869:978-0-19-513877-1
816:978-1-135-63882-5
661:Los Angeles Times
296:Lookout Rancheria
252:and two speaking
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16:(Redirected from
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905:Pit River tribes
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883:Official website
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494:taxus brevifolia
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379:Sacramento River
290:Likely Rancheria
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510:Notable members
488:They would use
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138:Pit River Tribe
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34:Pit River Tribe
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839:. Retrieved
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731:. Retrieved
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716:Pritzker 115
712:
707:Pritzker 117
689:. Retrieved
687:. 2013-04-17
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664:. Retrieved
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638:. Retrieved
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408:1827-1830s -
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318:Modoc County
277:Modoc County
270:
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47:Madesi tribe
30:Ethnic group
640:26 November
516:Jean LaMarr
490:amelanchier
484:Ethnobotany
258:Palaihnihan
231:Kosalektawi
227:Kosalextawi
899:Categories
854:References
841:25 January
733:2012-08-19
729:. Narf.org
691:2013-04-19
666:2012-10-28
630:"Achumawi"
340:Government
212:Hewisedawi
193:(Atsugewi)
181:Astariwawi
154:California
71:California
920:Pit River
432:1851-53 -
334:Mendocino
244:Languages
197:Atwamsini
150:Pit River
88:Languages
788:Archived
575:Archived
526:See also
518:, artist
394:Pre-1800
314:XL Ranch
254:Atsugewi
250:Achumawi
222:Itsatawi
185:Astarawi
176:Aporidge
170:Achomawi
128:Atsugewi
124:Achumawi
108:Religion
102:Atsugewi
98:Achumawi
496:to the
449:1850s -
414:1830s -
369:History
237:Madhesi
206:Hammawi
202:Hanhawi
94:English
867:
837:. ipl2
813:
420:1848 -
330:Lassen
217:Ilmawi
191:Atsuge
548:Notes
498:Ukiah
426:1849-
160:Bands
140:is a
60:1,800
865:ISBN
843:2018
811:ISBN
642:2017
275:and
136:The
100:and
901::
833:.
700:^
683:.
659:.
632:.
556:^
539:—
500:.
332:,
328:,
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279::
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229:(
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183:(
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
