The Wailaki: Pacific Coast Athapaskan

Posted Wednesday, January 4, 2006

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The Wailaki were a hunter gather nation who migrated from Canada into Northern California territory later on in the first millennia. Today many still reside on Round Valley Reservation of Mendocino County, where they were placed after conflict with immigrating whites, and also on Grindstone Creek Rancheria in Glen County.

The homes of the Wailaki were circular. In the wet months they lived near rivers for optimum fishing. In the summer and fall they moved to the sides and tops of ridges. During these months women of the tribe steadily gathered food while the men hunted deer and other animals. Their burial practices were similar to our own- burying their dead, but burning those lost in battle. The Wailaki considered the heads of their victims’ trophies and would often dance with them in victory.

Some of the common cultural practices included the women of the tribe tattooing their noses, cheeks and even chins. Girls went through adolescent ceremonies while the boys were often trained along with candidates for medicine men.

It is known that the Wailaki people used cocoons to make charms. The purpose of these cocoon charms are debatable, though historically charms are symbolic objects called "god's eye," the reasoning behind charms was to focus the eye of a god on the owner to keep them safe.

The coyote possesses great significance in the Wailaki religion. It was the coyote who stole the light of the sun to give to man and who blesses the fishing habits of these people.