Hello there,

 

I am of Wiyot culture, and would like to share some hystery with you.

 

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We, our people, have lived thousands of years in Northern California and Southern Oregon until the great Massacre. Our territory starts at Little River and continues down the coast to Bear River, then to inland to the first set of mountains. Rivers in our territory was Batwat (Mad River), Elk River, Eel River and the Van Duzen River. We had about 2,000 in our tribe pre 1850 however, after 1860 we only had about 200 people left. In 1910 our population decressed, we had less than 100 full blooded Wiyot in our territory. Our people are dying-- disease, slavery, target practice, "protection", and being herded like sheep from place to place. Lastly but most, massacres, especially the Great Massacre on February 26, 1860. Before white settlers came, we hunted wildlife of various game, fished, gathered roots and berries.

 

Indian Island, our center world, is our traditional site to the World Renewal Ceremony, as well as ancient village of Tuluwat. During World Renewal, everyone was welcome, no one was turned away. The leader of the Ceremony was Jim, Captain Jim. Our ceremony would last anywhere from seven to ten days, held at the Tuluwat village site on the northern part of the island. Traditionally, men would leave the island to gather the next day supplies; elders, women, and children were left to rest with a few men.

 

The Great Massacre. It was a cool winter morning of February 26, 1860 when a group of settlers armed with hatchets, clubs, knives and so on invaded Indian Island. It was in the wee hours, men, women, children, elders-- all of us were all asleep and exhausted from a week of ceremonial dance. We were caught unaware, in result, we were brutally slain.

     The brutal slain in this Massacre on Indian Island abruptly ended centuries of ceremonial dancing and celebration. We had two other village sites that were also massacred. One on Eel River and the other on South Spit. 100 or more people, we all died. Our soul infant survivor was James, Captain Jim's son on the Island.

     In memory of this horrifying massacre, we have an Indian Island Candlelight Vigil. Every February this is held in honour of those who lost their lives in the Massacre. This was also set up to help heal the community. Our first Vigil was held on the last Saturday of February in 1992. Ever since, we have had a vigil every year at the same time. Each year, our participants grow. 1996, more than 300 people showed for the vigil.

 

After the Massacre, we suffered greatly. U.S. troops collected us, and confinded us to Klamath River Reseveration. A disastrous flood on the Klamath, our people were taken to Smith River Reservation. Later, the Hoopa and Round Valley Reservations.

     When we attempted to return home, our homes were destroyed, our land was taken. We did not let that stop us, we returned. We had taken on a new life, ceasing our ceremonies and speaking our language. Our culture has been forgotton.

 

A church group, in the early 1900s, purchased 20 acres in the Eel River estuary for homeless Wiyot. 1908, the Federal Government took over and transfered into a trust status. This land became known as the Table Bluff Rancheria, now reffered to as "the old reservation."

     1958, Federal Government passed the California Rancheria Act that terminated our tribe in 1961. We filed a suit against the Federal Government for unlawful termination, and in 1981, Table Bluff Band of Indians Vs. Lujan (United States), we won our case, our trust status was reinstated. 1991, another lawsuit regarding drinking water contamination and other sanitation, the courts mandated new land be purchased and we to be moved to another location.

     Our new location, approximately 1 mile away up on the bluff, is the new Table Bluff Reservation, and the present location. The original 20 acres were put into fee simple under the individual familes, but deemed to be under the Tribe's jurisdiction as long as held in Indian hands.

 

Some of our people reside on 88 acres of land called the Table Bluff Reservation, 16 miles south of Eureka (city). Currently, there are over 550 enrolled members who continue to struggle for the survival of our culture.

 

Recently, our tribe has purchased a portion of Indian Island. 140 years later, we are working to dance once again. Our plans are to restore our heritage and protect ecological resources. If you would like to help support us of reclaiming the village of Tuluwat, where we once celebrated, please dont hesistate to visit our Sacred Sites Fund at www.wiyot.com

     The ground beneath the Tuluwat village is a huge clamshell mound (midden?). This mound, over 6 acres in size is estimated to be over 1,000 years old, an irreplaceable physical history for us, part of our life. Within remnants, there are many burial sites, meals, tools, ceremonies.

     End of 19th century, settlers built dikes and  channels on the island, changing the tidal action on shore, in consequence, erosion at the edge of the mound. Between 1913 and 1985 about 2000 cubic yards of shell mound has been totally lost in erosion, unfortunally, this problem has not stopped. Over 500 of our gravesites, and much more precious items were lost due to this erosion. Strutures of the Tuluwat village that were visible in 1913 are destroyed. We need to stop this erosion, and now. Our plan is restoration to eliminate erosion and looting while creating and enhancing wildlife habitat. May 18, 2006, Eureka City Council has made history for us. Unanimously approving resolution to return 60 acres, comprising the northeastern tip of the Island to our tribe. Indian Island is sacred to us, a resting place of centuries of our ancestors and our Renewal Dance. We can dance again. We can relive history.

 

Cawoks,

 

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Loliswil!