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more toward fence line above  area of Big Meadow.    The time it takes for Earth to form the floor of a Forest.     Years.   Hundreds of them.   Years for the trees to grow,  years for them to mature and fall.   Years to decompose,  be incorporated into the earth beneath.     How many human beings have walked here?    This is the land of Ishi.   Maybe even this very Hill at some moment as he made his way.   

as i sat there,    thinking these things,  i remembered.     sometime in the 60's  i read the book.    Ishi,    Last of his Tribe     Theodora Kroeber     1964       Have thought sometimes   since here.    Julian's school…..Ishi Middle School

in the 1840's  approximately 400 Yahi people existed in California.   Total Yana people estimated at 1,500.

1849  the Gold Rush begins

Ishi is born in 1860

1865  the Massacre of  Yani  people begins.   74 killed.

1866  Three Knolls Massecre.   40 killed.   Dry Camp Massacre.   33 killed.

1871   Kingsley Cave / Morgan Valley Massacre   30 killed.

1870 – 1911 Period of Concealment        a remnant band of 5-20 individuals of Yahi hide in the Mill Creek area of California,  what  is   now Lassen National Forest   which consists of 7 counties,  Tehama where Mill Creek is   but includes Butte where this Hill is.   

November 10,  1908  a surveying party surprises a band of 4.   Ishi escapes and hides.

October 1910   T.T.  Waterman leads an expedition to Mill Creek in attempt to find.  No contact made but they find "incontrovertible evidence of their existence in the wild state".

August 29,  1911  after the death of his family and other remaining Yahi,   Ishi was cornered by dogs outside the town of Oroville.

 

Maybe he sat.   Like i do.   Looking out.   Looking down.   deciding.

Lassen National Forest….  named after  pioneer Peter Lassen who mined,  ranched,  and promoted the area to emigrant parties in the 1850's.

Chronology    Nancy Rokafellar  USCF

 

 

 

 

 

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8 responses to “how we are.”

  1. Lace Lady Avatar
    Lace Lady

    I love your essay ~ and the tightly bound “full stories” encapsulated by your photograph. All of this delighted my eyes, and jump-started long ago memories and curiosity meandering over the years. I had (donated to library, very recently) all of Theodora Kroeber’s books that I had long kept and re-read until ragged. Theodora Kroeber was the mother of Ursula K. LeGuin. An interesting précis of her work written by Ursula K. LeGuin is included in an article that I re-read this morning, which can be found in the article “THEODORA KROEBER: STRINGING TOGETHER THE BONE BEADS OF HISTORY” at the link:
    https://www.nastywomenwriters.com/theodora-kroeber-stringing-together-the-bone-beads-of-history/
    Thank you Grace ~ this made my day, with such pleasure. I hope you don’t mind my including the link. Joy-full day to all who gather here.

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  2. CatherinE Avatar

    The sad story of Ishi. I wonder how different it might have been if the incoming people honored the natives instead of killing them.

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  3. Yvette Avatar

    I’ve the feeling Ishi is sitting next to you…..

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  4. grace Forrest Avatar

    i do not mind….i am so so happy to know of it, to have
    it referenced here….its WonderFull! I had no idea the
    connection LeGuin and this author of the Ishi book….
    just this week, i’d mentioned U LeGuin’s books to Alyssia
    ….how (of course) coincidental….all this Rest coming
    now We make eachother’s Day!!!!
    LOVE and Love

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  5. grace Forrest Avatar

    this has made me very interested in the history of this place….for a while i’ve been saying i need to go to the
    Chinese Museum and then…..my Thing about the Verbena
    Fields in Chico, a restoration project with state and local agencies and the Mechoopda tribe and then just my
    imagination What was it LIKE here, this area, when it
    was it’s pure self? I am loving imagining that

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  6. grace Forrest Avatar

    i thought that…..imagined that……and will
    continue

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  7. maria Avatar
    maria

    he’s your brother

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  8. Jan Rowan Avatar
    Jan Rowan

    I am glad you spoke of the Yana people……we live here on Yana land and in our circle of friends several are Yana……they say they can hear the voices of their ancestors when they are here…..the genocide was and continues to be such a source of pain…….such a beautiful land and so much in need of healing….i know you offer that……

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