WAILAKI INDIANS

TODAY THE WINTU AND WAILAKI LIVE ON THE GRINDSTONE RANCHERIA AND ARE RECOGNIZED FEDERALLY. THE RANCHERIA WAS FOUNDED IN 1907 AND HAS 120 ACRES WITH 162 MEMBERS LIVING HERE IN ELK CREEK. THEY SPEAK A PENUTIAN LANGUAGE BUT FEW SPEAK IT TODAY. THEY LIVED ON THE EEL RIVER WHERE MANY VILLAGES WERE LOCATED. AFTER FIGHTING WITH ANGLOS THEY MOVED TO COVELO ROUND VALLEY. THEY DID NOT BUILD CANOES, BUT LIVED BY THE RIVER IN WINTER DURING WET MONTHS, WHEN THEIR CHIEF'S OCCUPATION WAS FISHING. THE SUMMER MONTHS WERE SENT ON THE SIDE AND TOPS OF RIDGES WHERE THE WOMEN GATHERED BULBS, SEEDS, NUTS. THEIR WOMEN GATHERED BULBS, SEEDS, AND NUTS. THEIR WOMEN TATTOOED THEIR NOSES, CHEEKS, AND CHINS. COYOTE WAS PRINCIPAL TO THEIR MYTHOLOGY. HE SECURED FOR ME DAYLIGHT AND THE STARS, AND FIRE WHICH HE SUCCEEDED IN STEALING FROM THEIR GUARDIANS. HE ESTABLISHED FIRE FOR THEM. HE ORDAINED SOCIAL AND OTHER CUSTOMS. THE ADOLESCENT WERE RESTRICTED TO THEIR FOOD, DRINK AND SLEEP FOR MANY DAYS. THEIR TRAINING TOOK PLACE UNDER TWO OR MORE OLD SHAMANS.

LARGE CONICAL DANCE HOUSES WERE BUILT AND CEREMONIES WERE DEDICATED WITH SINGING . COYOTE IS CLEVER AND RECKLESS AND GETS HIMSELF IN TROUBLE AND THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM GET IN TROUBLE WITH INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR. WAILAKI COYOTE STORIES RANGE FROM HUMOROUS TO MISCHIEF TO SERIOUS LEGENDS ABOUT THE WORLD.

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