Chapter I: Front Matter

INDIANS
OF
LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK AND VICINITY

by
Paul E. Schulz

Published by the

Loomis Museum Association
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Mineral, California

Copyright
1954

Printed in the United States of America
Susanville _Lassen Litho_ California

_PREFACE_

It is with some temerity that the author, a geologist by training and an interpretive naturalist by occupation, undertakes to compile this booklet on Indians who once inhabited the vicinity of Lassen Peak.

The main mission of a naturalist, as he functions in the National Park Service, is to act as an interpreter of technical information gathered together by research scientists. It is his obligation as well as his privilege to make these data of history and natural history available for visitors to units administered by the National Park Service of the United States Department of the Interior. The Park Naturalist is challenged to create in visitors an eager interest by presenting information in an appealing manner so that the great stories of the respective areas may be learned easily and pleasantly. In doing this, visitors gain fuller understanding and hence better appreciation of the significance of these areas. This leads to greater enjoyment of the scenic masterpieces, the scientific natural wonders, and the historic shrines of areas of the National Park System. Not only is the visitor’s enjoyment enhanced by his active reception of the interpretive facilities and services offered him by the Federal Government, but his pride is stimulated in these areas which have been set aside for his own use as well as for the benefit of future generations. A citizen’s pride in his park areas in turn develops a love of country. It also promotes a sense of responsibility which helps the National Park Service fight vandalism, fire carelessness, and litter carelessness to the ultimate benefit of all concerned.

Little on the pages which follow may be classed as original material for it is in the role of interpreter that the undersigned has assembled information gleaned by qualified students.

The term “Amerind” instead of the traditional word “Indian” was seriously considered for use in this book but finally rejected. Ever since Christopher Columbus’ historic mistake the word Indian has had a confusing two-fold meaning. Columbus, of course, thought that he had been successful in reaching India when his little fleet touched the shores of the New World. Hence he applied the word Indian to the people he found there, supposing them to be natives of India. The term Amerind is a coined contraction of the words: American Indian. The use of Amerind has been advocated by some authors to do away with confusion, and it does seem to be an excellent name, but it has not enjoyed wide usage by the American public.

I am deeply indebted to the following named persons whose research and learned writings have provided the bulk of the information contained in the present publication. The bibliography carries the titles of the specific references used.

Dr. Roland B. Dixon
Mr. Thomas R. Garth
Dr. E. W. Gifford
Dr. Robert F. Heizer
Dr. Stanislaw Klimek
Dr. A. L. Kroeber
Dr. Saxton T. Pope
Dr. Carl O. Sauer
Dr. Edward Sapir
Dr. Leslie Spier
Miss Erminie W. Voegelin
Dr. T. T. Waterman

Properly, specific credit should be given in the text for each fact and quotation taken from the works of others, but the result would in this case have been unwieldy and of no practical benefit to the readers whom this book is intended to reach. It is hoped that professional ethnologists into whose hands this volume may fall will forgive this unorthodox usage of the research results of serious students.

Mrs. Selina La Marr (Boonookoo-ee-menorra) was a valuable and gracious informant. Thanks are due again to Dr. E. W. Gifford, Director of the Museum of Anthropology at the University of California, for many courtesies, including donation of a copy of Dixon’s rare “Yana Indians” and also for his constructive perusal of the manuscript. Others who assisted the author were Mrs. Grace Schulz, Miss Lois Bell of the University of California “University Explorer” radio program, and Mr. Louis Caywood, National Park Service archeologist. Dr. J. H. Woolsey, M.D., earned gratitude of the author by donation of his personal copy of Pope’s “Medical History of Ishi”. Miss Lilian Nisbet of the Tehama County Library was helpful in the securing of other reference materials.

Most Californians are vitally interested in the Indians of this state, yet few are aware of the excellent California State Indian Museum operated by the Division of Beaches and Parks. The Indian Museum is open to the public daily, free of charge, in a separate building on the grounds of Sutter’s Fort State Historical Monument in Sacramento. The author highly commends this museum to you. It contains a wealth of authentic materials which have been organized into handsome and exciting story-telling exhibits of first quality by Curator Jack Dyson.

Paul E. Schulz
Park Naturalist
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Fall 1954

_CONTENTS_

Preface I
Contents III
Prehistoric Man Comes to North America 1
Early Cultures in North America 4
The California Indians 8
Indian Tribes of the Lassen Area 16
Indian-Pioneer Conflict; the Ishi Story 20
Hunting 38
Fishing 43
Gathering and Preparation of Other Foods 48
Houses and Furnishings 60
Household Implements, Tools, and Weapons 66
Basketry and Textiles 80
Tanning, Cordage, and Glue 96
Transportation 99
Domestic Animals and Pets 103
Clothing 105
Beauty and Personal Grooming 111
Wealth 117
Ceremonial Dress 119
Tobacco and Smoking 120
Music and Arts 122
Games and Social Gatherings 126
Dances 129
Political Organization of Tribes 131
War and Peace 133
Birth and Babies 136
Adulthood Rites 141
Marriage and Divorce 143
Death and Burial 145
Counting, Time, and Place 149
Concepts of Sun, Moon, and Stars 151
Weather Phenomena 153
Earthquake Beliefs 155
Creation Beliefs and Other Legends 157
Medical Treatment 162
Spirits and Ghosts 164
Shamanism and Doctoring 166
Miscellaneous Magic 173
Bibliography 175