Up here in the Mount Shasta territory,
there have lived several Native Americans - one of them is the Wintu tribe. The Wintu people and their ancestors have lived in this area for thousands of years. This is homeland of the Wintu tribe.
I know a little something about these people, as my mother-in-law was part Wintu. She was born and raised in this area, and she used to talk to me about them from time to time, which I found interesting. She was also Scottish, Irish, and Welch, but part Wintu as well.
In history, the Wintu are described as a peaceful people.
There were 34,000 Wintu living in the homeland, but by 1910 there were only 710 people left.
California map showing Wintu homeland in the shaded black.
Two significant foods that the Wintu ate were acorns and fish, mainly salmon. The acorns were ground into flour and then made into soups and breads.
They were known for weaving baskets. Here is a Wintu basket in the 1890's.
Wintu arrow
Native American Wintu tribe Bone Abalone Necklace.
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Most of you know what a dream catcher is. This is a gift I received recently. I love the yellow and orange beads, they look Springy.
I hope to share sometime a little of my own Native American heritage, the fierce Apache.
I have had this bracelet since I was in my 20's. I've never given it away, I think because it has my initials engraved in the leather. It looks a bit Native American, don't you think?
I'll leave you with one of my favorite stories.
Old Story Teller: And a Man sat alone, drenched deep in sadness. And all the animals drew near to him and said, "We do not like to see you so sad. Ask us for whatever you wish and you shall have it." The Man said, "I want to have good sight." The vulture replied, "You shall have mine." The Man said, "I want to be strong." The jaguar said, "You shall be strong like me." Then the Man said, "I long to know the secrets of the earth." The serpent replied, "I will show them to you." And so it went with all the animals. And when the Man had all the gifts that they could give, he left. Then the owl said to the other animals, "Now the Man knows much, he'll be able to do many things. Suddenly I am afraid." The deer said, "The Man has all that he needs. Now his sadness will stop." But the owl replied, "No. I saw a hole in the Man, deep like a hunger he will never fill. It is what makes him sad and what makes him want. He will go on taking and taking, until one day the World will say, 'I am no more and I have nothing left to give.'"
~Sheri
