Kucadikadi
Encyclopedia
The Kucadikadi are a band of Northern Paiute people who live near Mono Lake in Mono County, California
. They are the southernmost band of Northern Paiute.
ikadi means "eaters of the brine fly pupae." They are also known as the Kutsavidökadö, Koza'bittukut'teh, Kotsa'va, Mono Lake Paiute, Mono Basin Paiute, and Kuzedika. The term "Mono Lake Paiute," a holdover from early anthropological literature, has proven problematic.
The Kucadikadi's homeland surrounds Mono Lake in eastern California, but they traditionally traveled to Walker Lake, Nevada
for seasonal subsistence activities. Mono Lake is a high piedmont area of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The average elevation of the Mono Lake basin is around 6,400 feet above sea level. The surrounding mountains range from 9,000 to 13,000 feet in elevation. Mono Lake is extremely saline and is home to several waterfowl species and the brine fly, or Ephydra hians or Hydropyrus hians, from which the band takes its name. Pinus monophylla or Piñon pine has been an importance source of food, as were jackrabbits, deer, mountain sheep, and the Coloradia pandora moth.
The extended family was the bands basic social units, which moved together as a group. They traded with Owens Valley Paiute and Western Mono.
Three late 19th century winter houses belonging to the tribe have been excavated by archaeologists. They are conical houses constructed with posts of Utah juniper or Juniperus osteosperma
. Winter of houses of this type, called tomogani, were built by the band up to 1920.
ikadi speak the Northern Paiute language
, which is in the Numic branch of the Uto-Aztecan language
family.
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, encroachment of non-Natives in their territory disrupted traditional hunting and gathering lifestyles, so members of the tribe relied on the tourist trade. Selling elaborate baskets to non-Indian tourists became viable way of making a living.
Glass beads were introduced by non-Indians, and Kucadikadi women began incorporating the seed beads into their baskets by 1908.
ikadi band are enrolled in federally recognized Paiute
, Washoe
, Yokuts, Miwok
, and Western Mono tribes. Others are seeking recognition as the Sierra Southern Miwuk and the Mono Lake Indian Community, headquartered in Lee Vining, California
.
Notable Kucad
Mono County, California
Mono County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California, to the east of the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite National Park and Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,202, up from 12,853 at the 2000 census...
. They are the southernmost band of Northern Paiute.
Name
KucadCulture and geography
Walker Lake, Nevada
Walker Lake, Nevada is an unincorporated town in Mineral County, Nevada. As of 2006, the population of Walker Lake is 319....
for seasonal subsistence activities. Mono Lake is a high piedmont area of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The average elevation of the Mono Lake basin is around 6,400 feet above sea level. The surrounding mountains range from 9,000 to 13,000 feet in elevation. Mono Lake is extremely saline and is home to several waterfowl species and the brine fly, or Ephydra hians or Hydropyrus hians, from which the band takes its name. Pinus monophylla or Piñon pine has been an importance source of food, as were jackrabbits, deer, mountain sheep, and the Coloradia pandora moth.
The extended family was the bands basic social units, which moved together as a group. They traded with Owens Valley Paiute and Western Mono.
Three late 19th century winter houses belonging to the tribe have been excavated by archaeologists. They are conical houses constructed with posts of Utah juniper or Juniperus osteosperma
Juniperus osteosperma
Juniperus osteosperma is a shrub or small tree reaching 3-6 m tall. It is native to the southwestern United States, in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, western New Mexico, western Colorado, Wyoming, southern Montana, southern Idaho and eastern California...
. Winter of houses of this type, called tomogani, were built by the band up to 1920.
Language
The KucadNorthern Paiute language
Northern Paiute is a Western Numic language of the Uto-Aztecan family, which according to Marianne Mithun had around 500 fluent speakers in 1994. Ethnologue reported the number of speakers in 1999 as 1,631...
, which is in the Numic branch of the Uto-Aztecan language
Uto-Aztecan languages
Uto-Aztecan or Uto-Aztekan is a Native American language family consisting of over 30 languages. Uto-Aztecan languages are found from the Great Basin of the Western United States , through western, central and southern Mexico Uto-Aztecan or Uto-Aztekan is a Native American language family...
family.
Basketry
The band is well known for its basketry. They wove coiled baskets as well as twined baskets. Bracken fern and redbud provide color for designs on coiled baskets.In the late 19th century and early 20th century, encroachment of non-Natives in their territory disrupted traditional hunting and gathering lifestyles, so members of the tribe relied on the tourist trade. Selling elaborate baskets to non-Indian tourists became viable way of making a living.
Glass beads were introduced by non-Indians, and Kucad
Today
Many members of the KucadPaiute
Paiute refers to three closely related groups of Native Americans — the Northern Paiute of California, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon; the Owens Valley Paiute of California and Nevada; and the Southern Paiute of Arizona, southeastern California and Nevada, and Utah.-Origin of name:The origin of...
, Washoe
Washoe people
The Washoe are a Great Basin tribe of Native Americans, living in California and Nevada. The name "Washoe" is derived from the autonym waashiw meaning "people from here" in the Washo language .-Territory:Washoe people have lived in the Great Basin for at least the last 6000 years...
, Yokuts, Miwok
Miwok
Miwok can refer to any one of four linguistically related groups of Native Americans, native to Northern California, who spoke one of the Miwokan languages in the Utian family...
, and Western Mono tribes. Others are seeking recognition as the Sierra Southern Miwuk and the Mono Lake Indian Community, headquartered in Lee Vining, California
Lee Vining, California
Lee Vining is a census-designated place in Mono County, California, United States. It is located south-southeast of Bridgeport, at an elevation of 6781 feet . Lee Vining is located on the southwest shore of Mono Lake. The population was 222 as of the 2010 census, down from 250 reported as of 2000...
.
Notable Kucadikadi
- Carrie BethelCarrie BethelCarrie McGowan Bethel was a Mono Lake Paiute - Kucadikadi basketmaker associated with Yosemite National Park. She was born Carrie McGowan in Lee Vining, California and began making baskets at the age of 12. She participated in basket making competitions in the Yosemite Indian Field Days in 1926...
(1898–1974), basket weaver - Nellie CharlieNellie CharlieNellie Charlie was a Mono Lake Paiute - Kucadikadi basketmaker associated with Yosemite National Park. She was born in Lee Vining, California, the daughter of tribal headman Pete Jim, and his wife Patsy, also a basketmaker. She married Young Charlie, a Mono Lake Paiute - Kucadikadi man from...
(1867–1965), basket weaver - Lucy TellesLucy TellesLucy Parker Telles was a Mono Lake Paiute - Kucadikadi and Southern Sierra Miwok Native American basket weaver.-Background:...
((ca. 1870/1885–1955/6), basket weaver
External links
- "Native American Story of Mono Lake Paiute," Reznet News video