EACH INDIAN GROUP FELT THAT THEY WERE THE CENTER OF THE WORLD. THE NOMLAKI LIVED IN MENDOCINO COUNTY. THEY HAD LONG DISTANCE RUNNERS WHO COULD DELIVER MESSAGES TO NEIGHBORING TRIBES. EACH GROUP FELT THAT THEY HAD NEIGHBORS WHO HAD EVIL MAGIC AND WERE TREACHEROUS. HOWEVER EACH TRIBE RELIED UPON OTHER NEIGHBORS FOR TRADE AND FOR MARRIAGE PARTNERS AS WELL AS FOR ENTERTAINMENT/CEREMONIES. GOING INTO ANOTHER VILLAGE WAS LIKE TRAVELING INTO A DIFFERENT WORLD FOR THEM SINCE THEY HAD VARIOUS LANGUAGES AND CEREMONIES AND FOOD TYPES AS WELL AS DIFFERENT GAMES AND WAYS OF LIFE. AFTER WINTER IT WAS GOOD TO VISIT AND SOCIALIZE WITH A LOT OF THEIR NEIGHBORS.
WHEN WINTER WAS OVER A LITTLE BIRD WOULD SAY "WITWITWIT". THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNERS WOULD SEND NEWS TO THE NEIGHBORS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE A DANCE, FEAST, AND CEREMONY. HE HAD A STRING WITH KNOTS IN IT AND THE KNOTS REPRESENTED THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT WERE LEFT UNTIL THE CELEBRATION. ONE STRING IS GIVEN TO EACH HEADMAN VILLAGE. THE PEOPLE COME ON THE DAY THE LAST KNOT IS UNTIED.
THE MESSENGERS EAT A SPECIAL DIET AND THEY HAVE NO OTHER JOB. HE MUST ALWAYS BE ABLE TO RUN. HE DOES NOT HUNT OR FISH. HIS MEMORY MUST BE THE BEST SINCE HE HAD TO KEEP THE MESSAGES STRAIGHT.
MALCOMB MARGOLIN
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2 comments:
I am the great grandson of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians.
I must correct a stated fact of "Nomlaki messengers." Whereas the Nomlaki exclusively inhabited
Tehema, Glenn counties. Mendocino county was the territory of blood enemy Yuki and Wylacki tribes.My ancestor Nomlaki were at war with Yuki tribe for 400 years.
Oops, I left out; Great Grandson of th last Headman/chief of the Paskenta Nomlaki Band when the California version of the Trail of Tears began.
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