Nisenan
Encyclopedia
The Nisenan, also known as the Southern Maidu
and Valley Maidu, are one of many native groups of the Central Valley
. The name Nisenan, derives from the ablative plural
pronoun
nisena·n, "from among us". Only a few members survive, and only a few who speak any of the Nisenan
dialects.
Nisenan, as with many of the tribes of central California, was never a true political distinction, but in fact is based on a 'common' language (in reality, a wide spectrum on similar dialects). There was no Nisenan Tribe, but instead a number of tribelets, which were small independent self-sufficient sovereign tribes. Each 'tribelet', or tribe, spoke a different variant of what is called the Nisenan language, which has led to some inconsistency among the linguistic data on the language.
to the west and the Sierra Mountains to the east. The southern reach went to about Cosumnes River
but north of Elk Grove
and the Meadoview and Pocket regions of Sacramento
, and the northern reach somewhere between the northern fork of the Yuba River
and the southern fork of the Feather River
.
Neighboring tribes included the Valley
and North Sierra Miwok
to the south, the Washo to the east, the Konkow and Maidu to the north, and the Patwin
to the west.
Maidu
The Maidu are a group of Native Americans who live in Northern California. They reside in the central Sierra Nevada, in the drainage area of the Feather and American Rivers...
and Valley Maidu, are one of many native groups of the Central Valley
California Central Valley
California's Central Valley is a large, flat valley that dominates the central portion of California. It is home to California's most productive agricultural efforts. The valley stretches approximately from northwest to southeast inland and parallel to the Pacific Ocean coast. Its northern half is...
. The name Nisenan, derives from the ablative plural
Plural
In linguistics, plurality or [a] plural is a concept of quantity representing a value of more-than-one. Typically applied to nouns, a plural word or marker is used to distinguish a value other than the default quantity of a noun, which is typically one...
pronoun
Pronoun
In linguistics and grammar, a pronoun is a pro-form that substitutes for a noun , such as, in English, the words it and he...
nisena·n, "from among us". Only a few members survive, and only a few who speak any of the Nisenan
Nisenan language
Nisenan is a nearly extinct Maiduan language spoken by the Nisenan people of central California in the foothills of the Sierras, in the whole of the American, Bear and Yuba river drainages.Ethnologue states that there is only one speaker left...
dialects.
Nisenan, as with many of the tribes of central California, was never a true political distinction, but in fact is based on a 'common' language (in reality, a wide spectrum on similar dialects). There was no Nisenan Tribe, but instead a number of tribelets, which were small independent self-sufficient sovereign tribes. Each 'tribelet', or tribe, spoke a different variant of what is called the Nisenan language, which has led to some inconsistency among the linguistic data on the language.
Territory
The Nisenan lived in the Central Valley of California between the Sacramento RiverSacramento River
The Sacramento River is an important watercourse of Northern and Central California in the United States. The largest river in California, it rises on the eastern slopes of the Klamath Mountains, and after a journey south of over , empties into Suisun Bay, an arm of the San Francisco Bay, and...
to the west and the Sierra Mountains to the east. The southern reach went to about Cosumnes River
Cosumnes River
The Cosumnes River is a river in northern California in the United States. It rises on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada and flows approximately into the Central Valley, emptying into the Mokelumne River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.-Name:...
but north of Elk Grove
Elk Grove, California
Elk Grove is a city in Sacramento County, California, located just south of the state capital of Sacramento. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 153,015...
and the Meadoview and Pocket regions of Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, and the northern reach somewhere between the northern fork of the Yuba River
Yuba River
The Yuba River is a tributary of the Feather River in the Sacramento Valley of the U.S. state of California. It is one of the Feather's most important branches, providing about a third of its flow. The main stem of the river is about long, and its headwaters are split into North, Middle and South...
and the southern fork of the Feather River
Feather River
The Feather River is the principal tributary of the Sacramento River, in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California. The river's main stem is about long. Its length to its most distant headwater tributary is about . Its drainage basin is about...
.
Neighboring tribes included the Valley
Valley and Sierra Miwok
The Plains and Sierra Miwok , were the largest group of Miwok Native American people...
and North Sierra Miwok
Valley and Sierra Miwok
The Plains and Sierra Miwok , were the largest group of Miwok Native American people...
to the south, the Washo to the east, the Konkow and Maidu to the north, and the Patwin
Patwin
The Patwin are a Wintun people native to the area of Northern California. The Patwin were a southern branch of the Wintun group and native inhabitants of California from 1,000 up to 4,000 years....
to the west.