Part 1:The Wappo are a group of Native American who traditionally lived in Northern California in the areas of Napa Valley, the South sore of Clear Lake, Alexandre Valley, and Russian River. Common in this area was the semi-subterranean roundhouse where elaborate Kuksu dances were held in the past and continue to this day. These rituals assure the renewal of the world's natural foods both plant and animal. Despite differences, between tribes, these rituals share similar purposes. The discovery of gold in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada at a sawmill construction site developed by Indian Agent Johann Sutter, ushered in one of the darkest episodes of dispossession widespread sexual assault and mass murder against the native people of California. Sutter immediately negotiated a treaty with the chief of the Coloma Nisenan Tribe which would have given a three year lease to lands surrounding the gold discovery site. During those negotiations, the chief prophetically warned Sutter that the yellow metal he so eagerly sought was, "very bad medicine. It belonged to a demon who devoured all who searched for it". Eventually the military governor refused to endorse Sutter's self-serving actions.Within a year a hoard of 100,000 adventurers from all over the world descended upon the native peoples of California with catastrophic results. The entire state was scoured by gold seekers. Thinly spread government officials were overwhelmed by this unprecedented deluge of immigrants and all effective authority collapsed. Military authorities could not prevent widespread desertion of soldiers and chaos reigned.
I chose this tribe because I had heard the name before but didn't really know anything about them. My other choice where the Pomos, but i know many things about them already and I think other students have the opportunity to research them. I wanted to do some research on a tribe that i didn't know anything about.
The Wappos were known for their baskets. The baskets were made by weaving parts of plants that were growing in the valley. They used the gray willow, redbud, and sedge plants. The baskets were so tightly woven that they could hold water or be used in cooking foods such as nuts. Beads and feathers were sometimes woven into the baskets. The beads were made from shells brought back from the coast.The naturally black root of the bulrush was used for the black design in Wappo baskets. Wappo Weavers discovered that they could enhance the blackness of the root by soaking them in a metal can. Redbud bark was woven into baskets to create red designs. The tan background, is from the sedge root. A newly woven basket might appear to be almost white because of the light color of new growth roots split for weaving. The sedge root, however will darken with age, becoming first a nice beige color and later tan. Over time this tan color may darken to light brown.The Wappos also used their weaving skills to make nets for catching fish and carrying boards that mothers used to carry their babies as they worked.
The name ‘Napa’ was given to the valley by the Wappo Indians who first inhabited the area. To them, Napa meant a land of plenty. We think this name aptly describes the wonderful bounty of food and wine in this beautiful countryside.
The Wappos ate the foods that were around them. They hunted deer, bears, and squirrels. They collected and crushed acorns to make a mush. They caught fish with their hands.This chart lists the names of the animals, insects, birds, and fishes that were eaten by the Wappos along with the wappo word.
Sources:
http://www.corpuschristischool.com/4thca_native_websites_04/Wappo/wappo_home.html#intersting
http://store.merryvale.com/assets/client/File/Profiles-May09-Flemings.pdf
http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/activity/wappo/pages/wappoanimals.html
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