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Achomawi

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Ethnie: ACHOMAWI (PIT RIVER INDIANS)
Language: Palainihan
Family: Shastan
Stock: Western Hokan
Phylum: Hokan
Macro-Culture: Transitional:  Kuksu, Great Basin & Northwest

 

 

 

 

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The Achomawi were semi-sedentary hunter/ gatherer tribes located in the drainage of the Pit River in northeastern California. They were often called the Pit River Indians due to their practice of digging pits for the purpose of catching game. The tribes were often victims of slaving raids of tribes from the north and later was devastated by settlers in the years following the gold rush.
Aboriginal Locations
Achomawi, Atuami, Hamawi, Hantiwi, Ilmawi, Madehsi
Present Locations
ALTURAS RANCHERIA, Alturas
BIG BEND RANCHERIA, Big Bend
LIKELY RESERVATION, Likely
LOOKOUT RANCHERIA, Lookout
MONTGOMERY CREEK RANCHERIA, Montgomery Creek
ROARING CREEK RANCHERIA, Montgomery Creek
ROUND VALLEY RESERVATION, Covelo
SUSANVILLE RANCHERIA, Susanville
X L RANCH RESERVATION, Alturas
Year History
1848 US Army invasion under Gen. Geo. Crook
1849 Gold rush brought influx of settlers and miners
1854 Rogue River Wars
1871 Began to practice Ghost Dance
1921 Smallpox epidemic
Year Population Source
1700 3,000 NAHDB calculation
1770 1,500 Kroeber estimate
1800 3,000 NAHDB calculation
1848 3,000 Cook estimate
1852 3,000 Cook estimate
1880 1,500 Cook estimate
1900 1,300 NAHDB calculation
1910 1,000 Census
1930 400 Census
1936 500 McGregor estimate
2000 1,500 NAHDB projection
Other speakers of the same language:

Atsugewi

Achomawi Sites
Achomawi Mother and Child     http://www.edwardscurtis.com/ACHOMA3.html
Achomawi Matron    http://www.edwardscurtis.com/ACHOMA5.html
Curtis Collection    http://www.curtis-collection.com/tribe%20data/achamawi.html
Curtis Collection    http://curtis-collection.com/tribe%20data/portfolio%20index/portfolio13.html
The Gold Rush Legacy:  Greed, Pollution, and Genocide    http://www.earthisland.org/eijournal/spring98/sp98g_wr.htm
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