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Maidu
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Ethnie: MAIDU
Language: Maiduan
Family: Maiduan
Stock: Penutian
Phylum: Macro-Penutian
Macro-Culture: Kuksu

 

 

 

 

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The Maidu were a language group of hunter/gatherer tribes. Some of the Maiduan dialects may have been different enough to be considered to be different languages. They ranged throughout the drainages of the American and Feather Rivers. Their culture was destroyed by White introduced disease and by the genocide of the gold rush settlers and miners. Some are now seeking federal recognition.
Aboriginal Locations
Northeastern Division (7), Northwestern Division (39), Southern or Nishinam (56)
Present Locations
AUBURN RANCHERIA, Auburn
BERRY CREEK RANCHERIA, Berry Creek
ENTERPRISE RANCHERIA, Oroville
GREENVILLE RANCHERIA, Redding
MAIDU TRIBE, Butte County
MAIDU TRIBE, Nevada County
MOORETOWN RANCHERIA, Oroville
NISENAN MAIDU TRIBE, Placer County
ROUND VALLEY RESERVATION, Covelo
SUSANVILLE RANCHERIA, Susanville
Groups With Recognition Petitions Pending
MAIDU NATION, Susanville
Year History
1821 Large number indentured to Mexican feudal barons
1828 Jedediah Smith passed through country
1833 Malaria epidemic
1839 John Sutter established New Helvetia, smallpox epidemic
1850 California gold rush, depredations by settlers/miners against Indians
1851 Treaty of 1851 negotiated with Wozencroft
1852 Senate rejected treaties
1863 Soldiers "marched" 461 to Round Valley, 32 died en route, survivors eventually filtered back to ancestral lands
Year Population Source
1700 9,000 NAHDB calculation
1770 9,000 Kroeber estimate
1800 9,000 NAHDB calculation
1848 7,000 Cook estimate
1856 2,300 Cook estimate
1865 1,550 Cook estimate
1880 1,000 Cook estimate
1900 1,100 NAHDB calculation
1910 1,100 Census
1989 1,329 BIA (Berry Creek, Enterprise, Potter Valley, Greenville, and Mooretown
2000 1,700 NAHDB calculation
Other speakers of the same language:
None
Maidu Links
The Gold Rush Legacy:  Greed, Pollution, and Genocide    http://www.earthisland.org/eijournal/spring98/sp98g_wr.htm
Lost Tribes    http://www.sacbee.com/news/projects/native/day1_main.html
Maidu Bowls    http://www.hermeticsphere.com/NorthCentralCA.html
Maidu Headmen with Treaty Commissioners    http://www.museumca.org/goldrush/silver-maidu.html
Maidu Indian Basket    http://www.sherwoodsspirit.com/1340.html
Maidu Food Walk (student project)    http://www.cusd.chico.k12.ca.us/~bmentzel/maidu.html
The Maidu Indians - Middle Mountain Foundation    http://www.middlemountain.org/indians.htm
The Maidu:  Notes by ES Curtis    http://curtis-collection.com/tribe%20data/maidu.html
Maidu Origin Narrative    http://eee.uci.edu/99f/28110/rapch1.html    (Document 3)
Maidu Origin Stories    http://www4.hmc.edu:8001/humanities/indigenous/maidu.htm
Maidu - SFSU Narrative    http://bss.sfsu.edu/calstudies/Native%20Web%20Pages/maidu.html
The Maidu - Text from Oh California   http://www.dsusd.k12.ca.us/educational/canatives/maidu.html
Mooretown Rancheria    http://www.featherfallscasino.com/tribal.htm
Mountain Maidu Beadwork    http://www.snowcrest.net/kidpower/ennis.html
Native American Uses of Asphaltum    http://seeps.wr.usgs.gov/seeps/native_uses.html
Northern California Maidu Basket    http://www.manyhandsgallery.net/baskets/bas17.htm
Todds Valley Miwok - Maidu    http://mmoffet.neworld.net/Miwok-Maidu.htm
United Auburn Indian Community    http://www.auburnindians.com/

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