California Native American Indian Series
Yurok Tribe We are Californians. Some of us were born here. Some of us moved here. A few of us have ancestors who lived here for hundreds of generations. Those Native American or indigenous people of long ago lived in tribes with special customs, cultures, and practices. Each tribe is unique. The Yurok tribe was different from other tribes in a very modern way. They loved wealth! They owned their houses and worked hard to get rich. Everything had a dollar value-- except they used mollusk shells on a string instead of coins. Men tattooed "ruler marks" on their arms to measure the string of shells. If you could not pay a debt or owed money, you became a slave until your bill was paid. Location The Yurok tribe (pronounced your'-rock) lived in the northwest part of what is now Humboldt and Del Norte counties in California. For at least 600 years before the white man arrived, they lived in villages along the Klamath River and near the Pacific Ocean. With a population of 2500 people in 1770, the Yuroks spoke three Indian languages and interacted with other nearby tribes. 1
Leadership Not surprisingly, rich people were the most important people in the tribe. They got together in councils to run the villages. There was no chief. There were several ways to get rich: inheriting homes and objects like rare albino deerskins, buying land, or becoming a shaman. Shamans or "curing doctors" made money every time the sick person got better. If the sick person died, the shaman had to give a refund. Shamans could be male or female. The Yuroks called themselves "the People." Individuals had names that described where they lived. Because their lives were so dependent on the Klamath River, their language reflected that. They didn't give directions using left/ right or east/west. All directions referred to flowing water. Food Not surprisingly, the Yurok diet was full of fish, especially salmon. The average family ate 2000 pounds of salmon a year! When they weren't eating fish, they were munching on acorns, berries and roots. They pounded and dried their food to last during the winter, then cooked it in baskets and ate with spoons. 2
Like many tribes, the Yurok were hunters and gatherers. They hunted deer for their skins more than their meat. They loved, loved, loved whale meat but only ate it if a dead whale washed up on shore. They never hunted whales. Clothing Northern Coastal California can be a cold and rainy place to live. The Yuroks wore deerskin capes over their shoulders when it got chilly. When it was warm, the men sometimes wore loincloths and the women wore apron-like skirts. The women also wore basket hats that kept off the rain. When they carried a baby on their back in a basket, they could loop a strap around their forehead over the basket to help distribute the weight. What about shoes? The Yurok only wore moccasins when walking far. Housing Their homes also had to stand up to the rainy environment. Instead of teepees or huts, Yurok homes were rectangular and built out of redwood planks they harvested from fallen trees. Their houses looked like modern houses except there were no windows or front door. Instead there was a two-foot wide hole to crawl through to get in and out. 3
Settlements didn't have just houses. They also had communal property or property shared by all members of the tribe. Acorns groves and food-gathering campsites were shared. Sweathouses were shared but separated by men and women. Sweathouses were an important part of Yurok daily life. Sweating purified and cleansed the body while the sweathouse was a place to make tools and socialize. Ceremonies Marriages were arranged, usually for the financial benefit of the two families. They had ceremonies for many occasions. Some could last for ten days, filled with costumes and men dancing. The Yuroks revered their natural habitat--the redwoods, the salmon--and they showed thanks and asked for blessings through their rituals. For example, the first salmon ceremony was celebrated when the salmon returned to spawn. Creation Beliefs The Yuroks believed the earth was an island in the center of an ocean and the sky was a dome overhead. A Yurok family would never have a pet dog. Dogs were feared and respected and not to be spoken to ever. If you spoke to a dog and it barked back, it was a bad omen. 4
Cultures Collide Like all the other tribes, the Yurok tribe was destroyed by the advance of the Europeans and Americans. The Gold Rush made things worse. Greedy miners took Yurok land and caused fights. Over 75% of the tribe was lost to violence or disease. Today Eventually, the tribe was moved to reservations which ensured its downfall. Today, there are no full-blooded Yurok people left, but the tribe is trying hard to keep the language, traditions, and culture alive. 5
Discussion Questions 1. What were some things that made this tribe unique? The Yurok tribe was different from other tribes in a very modern way. They loved wealth! They owned their houses and worked hard to get rich 2. What resources did they use for housing? Yurok homes were rectangular and built out of redwood planks they harvested from fallen trees. 4. If you were the leader what is your duties? Not surprisingly, rich people were the most important people in the tribe. They got together in councils to run the villages. There was no chief. 5. Describe a ceremony or religious belief of the tribe. Marriages were arranged, usually for the financial benefit of the two families. They had ceremonies for many occasions. Some could last for ten days, filled with costumes and men dancing. The Yuroks revered their natural habitat--the redwoods, the salmon--and they showed thanks and asked for blessings through their rituals. For example, the first salmon ceremony was celebrated when the salmon returned to spawn. 6. Does this tribe have any special resources? Because their lives were so dependent on the Klamath River, their language reflected that. They didn't give directions using left/ right or east/west. All directions referred to flowing water. 7. What did this tribe value?. They loved wealth! They owned their houses and worked hard to get rich. Everything had a dollar value--except they used mollusk shells on a string instead of coins. Men tattooed "ruler marks" on their arms to measure the string of shells. If you could not pay a debt or owed money, you became a slave until your bill was paid. 8. Describe this tribe s creation legend. The Yuroks believed the earth was an island in the center of an ocean and the sky was a dome overhead. A Yurok family would never have a pet dog. Dogs were feared and respected and not to be spoken to ever. If you spoke to a dog and it barked back, it was a bad omen. 9. What did the people in this tribe eat? The Yurok diet was full of fish, especially salmon. The average family ate 2000 pounds of salmon a year! When they weren't eating fish, they were munching on acorns, berries and roots. They pounded and dried their food to last during the winter, then cooked it in baskets and ate with spoons. 10. How did the tribal members dress? Northern Coastal California can be a cold and rainy place to live. The Yuroks wore deerskin capes over their shoulders when it got chilly. When it was warm, the men sometimes wore loincloths and the women wore apron-like skirts. The women also wore basket hats that kept off the rain. When they carried a baby on their back in a basket, they could loop a strap around their forehead over the basket to help distribute the weight. What about shoes? The Yurok only wore moccasins when walking far. 11. What happened to this tribe over time? Like all the other tribes, the Yurok tribe was destroyed by the advance of the Europeans and Americans. The Gold Rush made things worse. Greedy miners took Yurok land and caused fights. Over 75% of the tribe was lost to violence or disease. 5
Name: Tribe: Where is your tribe located? What does your tribe eat? Describe your tribe s housing. Describe one of your tribe s ceremonies? Explain the purpose of the event. What does your tribe value?
Name: Tribe: Describe a myth, legend or belief of your tribe. What is something unique about your tribe. Write a paragraph about how your tribe uses their natural resources.
Yurok Tribe There are lots of stereotypes about Native American tribes. Not all Indians lived in teepees, wore feathers in their hair or scalped white settlers. Every tribe is unique. Location The Yurok tribe (pronounced your'-rock) lived in the northwest part of what is now Humboldt and Del Norte counties in California. For at least 600 years before the white man arrived, they lived in villages along the Klamath River and near the Pacific Ocean. With a population of 2500 people in 1770, the Yuroks spoke three Indian languages and interacted with other nearby tribes. The Yurok tribe was different from other tribes in a very modern way. They loved wealth! They owned their ankatown houses and worked hard to get rich. Everything had a dollar value--except they used mollusk shells on a string instead of coins. Men tattooed "ruler marks" on their arms to measure the string of shells. If you could not pay a debt or owed money, you became a slave until your bill was paid. 1
Leadership Not surprisingly, rich people were the most important people in the tribe. They got together in councils to run the villages. There was no chief. There were several ways to get rich: inheriting homes and objects like rare albino deerskins, buying land, or becoming a shaman. Shamans or "curing doctors" made money every time the sick person got better. If the sick person died, the shaman had to give a refund. Shamans could be male or female. The Yuroks called themselves "the People." Individuals had names that described where they lived. Because their lives were so dependent on the Klamath River, their language reflected that. They didn't give directions using left/ right or east/west. All directions referred to flowing water. Food Not surprisingly, the Yurok diet was full of fish, especially salmon. The average family ate 2000 pounds of salmon a year! When they weren't eating fish, they were munching on acorns, berries and roots. They pounded and dried their food to last during the winter, then cooked it in baskets and ate with spoons. 2
Like many tribes, the Yurok were hunters and gatherers. They hunted deer for their skins more than their meat. They loved, loved, loved whale meat but only ate it if a dead whale washed up on shore. They never hunted whales. Clothing Northern Coastal California can be a cold and rainy place to live. The Yuroks wore deerskin capes over their shoulders when it got chilly. When it was warm, the men sometimes wore loincloths and the women wore apron-like skirts. The women also wore basket hats that kept off the rain. When they carried a baby on their back in a basket, they could loop a strap around their forehead over the basket to help distribute the weight. What about shoes? The Yurok only wore moccasins when walking far. Housing Their homes also had to stand up to the rainy environment. Instead of teepees or huts, Yurok homes were rectangular and built out of redwood planks they harvested from fallen trees. Their houses looked like modern houses except there were no windows or front door. Instead there was a two-foot wide hole to crawl through to get in and out. 3
Settlements didn't have just houses. They also had communal property or property shared by all members of the tribe. Acorns groves and food-gathering campsites were shared. Sweathouses were shared but separated by men and women. Sweathouses were an important part of Yurok daily life. Sweating purified and cleansed the body while the sweathouse was a place to make tools and socialize. Ceremonies Marriages were arranged, usually for the financial benefit of the two families. They had ceremonies for many occasions. Some could last for ten days, filled with costumes and men dancing. The Yuroks revered their natural habitat--the redwoods, the salmon--and they showed thanks and asked for blessings through their rituals. For example, the first salmon ceremony was celebrated when the salmon returned to spawn. Creation Beliefs The Yuroks believed the earth was an island in the center of an ocean and the sky was a dome overhead. A Yurok family would never have a pet dog. Dogs were feared and respected and not to be spoken to ever. If you spoke to a dog and it barked back, it was a bad omen. 4
Cultures Collide Like all the other tribes, the Yurok tribe was destroyed by the advance of the Europeans and Americans. The Gold Rush made things worse. Greedy miners took Yurok land and caused fights. Over 75% of the tribe was lost to violence or disease. Today Eventually, the tribe was moved to reservations which ensured its downfall. Today, there are no full-blooded Yurok people left, but the tribe is trying hard to keep the language, traditions, and culture alive. 5
Name: Tribe: Where is your tribe located? What does your tribe eat? Describe your tribe s housing. Describe one of your tribe s ceremonies? Explain the purpose of the event. What does your tribe value?
Name: Tribe: Describe a myth, legend or belief of your tribe. What is something unique about your tribe. Write a paragraph about how your tribe uses their natural resources. 4thgrade4ever
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