Wiyot
Nation | Active
1500 CE to 2215 CE
The Wiyot are an indigenous people of California living near Humboldt Bay, California and a small surrounding area.
They are culturally similar to the Yurok people
Today, there are approximately four hundred and fiity Wiyot people.
They are enrolled in several federally recognized tribes, such as the Wiyot Tribe (also known as the Table Bluff Reservation—Wiyot Tribe), Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria, Blue Lake Rancheria, and the Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria.
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White settlers massacre a band of Wiyot Indians on Indian Island, near Eureka, California, on February 26, 1860.
At least eighty women, children and elders are killed.
Immigrants had settled in the area since the California Gold Rush over the past ten years.
The Wiyot are at this time a peaceful tribe.
Though earlier having fought, driven out or exterminated other tribes that had formerly held the lands they then occupied, they had never fought with white settlers and were not expecting an attack for their cattle raiding.
The killings follow two years of open hostility by a group of local whites against the residents of Indian Island, numerous editorials in the local newspapers, and the formation of volunteer militia groups.
A pattern of hostility had developed between local Indians and the settlers, who let their cattle stray onto Indian lands.
Indians have utilized the cattle, but the cattle owners strike back in retaliation.
On the night of February 26, 1860, a small group of settlers crosses Humboldt Bay and to avoid drawing attention from nearby Eureka residents, the bulk of whom may not have condoned the killings, carry out the attack primarily with hatchets, clubs and knives.
Contrary to a commonly held view, guns were also used, with some Eureka residents reported hearing shots that night, but knowledge of the attack was not widespread at the time.
News accounts report only the shooting of adult men, with handheld weapons used against women and children.
Based upon Wiyot Tribe estimates, eighty to two hundred and fifty Wiyot people were murdered.
Another estimate states the number of natives killed at one hundred and fifty.
Because most of the adult able-bodied men were away gathering supplies as part of continuing preparation for the World Renewal Ceremony, nearly all the Wiyot men murdered are believed to have been older men, which is one reason why the Wiyot were largely defenseless.
At least eighty women, children and elders are killed.
Immigrants had settled in the area since the California Gold Rush over the past ten years.
The Wiyot are at this time a peaceful tribe.
Though earlier having fought, driven out or exterminated other tribes that had formerly held the lands they then occupied, they had never fought with white settlers and were not expecting an attack for their cattle raiding.
The killings follow two years of open hostility by a group of local whites against the residents of Indian Island, numerous editorials in the local newspapers, and the formation of volunteer militia groups.
A pattern of hostility had developed between local Indians and the settlers, who let their cattle stray onto Indian lands.
Indians have utilized the cattle, but the cattle owners strike back in retaliation.
On the night of February 26, 1860, a small group of settlers crosses Humboldt Bay and to avoid drawing attention from nearby Eureka residents, the bulk of whom may not have condoned the killings, carry out the attack primarily with hatchets, clubs and knives.
Contrary to a commonly held view, guns were also used, with some Eureka residents reported hearing shots that night, but knowledge of the attack was not widespread at the time.
News accounts report only the shooting of adult men, with handheld weapons used against women and children.
Based upon Wiyot Tribe estimates, eighty to two hundred and fifty Wiyot people were murdered.
Another estimate states the number of natives killed at one hundred and fifty.
Because most of the adult able-bodied men were away gathering supplies as part of continuing preparation for the World Renewal Ceremony, nearly all the Wiyot men murdered are believed to have been older men, which is one reason why the Wiyot were largely defenseless.