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1THE KAWAAISU AND THE MAIDU

The Kawaiisu and the Maidu Matthew P. Fernandez

College of the Canyons

The Kawaiisu and the MaiduThe Kawaiisu Indians were originally found in the Sierra Nevada mountains, however they were relocated to the Tejon Pass by the United States government in 1853 because clashes with settlers presented barriers to settlement in the newly formed state of California (The Kawiisu Culture, 2015). They were mainly a hunter-gatherer people. Deer was the meat of choice, however antelope and brown bears often supplemented the Kawaiisu diet. Berries, seeds, roots and bulbs, and nuts, especially acorns, were eaten in the absence of meat. To ensure a renewable supply of food, the Kawaiisu would burn away invasive plants to ensure that the deer had enough grass to eat and would replant the bulbs and roots for harvest at a later date The Kawaiisu Culture, 2015). They lived in houses between 15 and 25 feet in diameter wither made of branches or earth, although evidence exists of temporary camps inside of caves (The Kawaiisu Culture, 2015). Other structures were built including workhouses, sweat lodges, and storage houses.Culture in Kawaiisu life was organized mainly around familial units, but they were mainly an autonomous people, both politically and spiritually, and had little other social organization. A loose concept of chieftainship existed among the people, although there often many recognized chiefs in the area, and a chief may simply have been the most knowledgeable person in the family group. Social status among the Kawaiisu was based upon wealth and generosity, so chiefs often threw large gatherings with feasts and celebrations (The Kawaiisu Culture, 2015).It is the Kawaiisu belief that all things on Earth had life in them, from the animals to the rock to the trees, and each played an important role on Earth (The Kawaiisu Culture, 2015). The main players in their stories were the coyote, mountain lion, bear, and rattlesnake, however they were only told during winter because rattlesnake would be asleep then and would not bring bad weather or bite anyone. Anthropologists refer to the Kawaiisu stories as the Coyote Cycle because he is one of the most prominent characters, and although Mountain Lion is the voice of reason and righteousness, the Kawaiisu say they often choose to follow the trickster path of Coyote (The Culture of the Kawaiisu, 2015).The Maidu people were found to the east of the Sierra Nevada, around what is modern day Sacramento. They were mainly hunters who ate everything from insects and fish to birds and large mammals. Hunting techniques included driving prey off cliffs, nets, and nooses (Maidu Culture, 1925). Maidu life was sedentary and villages were erected near springs or clearings. Maidu life was politically autonomous yet each settlement was allied with its surrounding neighbors. Chieftainship was different between northern and southern Maidu, as the southern tribes adopted a hereditary system of leadership while the northern people allowed for shifts in power due to deposition or popularity (Maidu, 2015). The Maidu followed the naturalistic Kuksu religion, which involved secret male rites, secret societies, masks and costumes, and large chambers. Kuksu focused on good rituals promoting good harvests and warding away ill fortune, such as natural disasters and diseases (Maidu, 2015). Shamanism and the presence of ancestral spirits were also aspects of Maidu religious culture (Maidu Culture).Land was not individually owned, but held in common by all members of the community. Some specific fishing holes or deer fences were claimed by individuals, however males were free to hunt and roam around the entire area held by his community (Maidu Culture, 1925).

Works Cited

California Department of Parks and Recreation (2015). The Kawaiisu Culture. Retrieved from http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22538Encyclopedia Brittanica (2015, March 26). Maidu. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/ EBchecked/topic/358459/MaiduKroeber, A.L. (1925) Maidu Culture. Retrieved from http://www.maidu.com/maiduculture/ culture.html