Also known as Yukiah, the Yuki people historically occupied areas in what is now California that included Round Valley, much of northern Mendocino County, and Lake County.
Traditionally, the Yuki people were divided into three groups or sub-tribes: the Ukomno'om, or Yuki proper (Valley People), the Huchnom (Outside the Valley), and the Ukohtontilka or Ukosontilka (Ocean People or Coast Yuki). The Ukomno'om inhabited the upper reaches of the Eel River and its tributaries, while the territory of the Huchnom extended beyond the valley, and the Ukohtontilka or Ukosontilka lived along the Pacific Coast. Yuki tribes are thought to have settled as far south as Hood Mountain in present-day Sonoma County.
Like other American Indian tribes in the region, the Yuki relied on a mix of hunting, fishing, and gathering of edible plants. They hunted deer, elk, and small game, harvested salmon and other fish using spears, dip nets, seining nets, brush weirs, and corrals, and gathered acorns, seeds, and berries.
Yuki culture emphasized communal living, in which extended families resided in large homes.
Ethnically, the Yuki were closely related to the Wappo, a neighboring tribe with which they traded, shared cultural practices, and intermarried.
The Yuki language has been extinct since the death of its last speaker, Arthur Anderson, in 1983.
In 1856, the United States government established an Indian reservation on Nome Cult Farm, which later became the Round Valley Indian Reservation. Thousands of Yuki and other neighborhood tribes were forced onto the reservation, often without sufficient support for the transition. This, and other conflicts, led to the 1859 Mendocino War, in which white militias killed hundreds of Yuki, taking survivors by force to Nome Cult Farm.
During the 1850s and 1860s, the population of the tribes moved onto the Reservation was reduced from about 20,000 to a few hundred through poor settlement policies, murders, massacres, abductions, rape-induced venereal disease, and willful neglect.
Today, most descendants of the Yuki people are enrolled in the Round Valley Indian Tribes, which governs the Round Valley Indian Reservations. Many of those currently enrolled in the Round Valley Indian Tribes are descendants of several local tribes, many of whom are of mixed ancestry through intermarriage. In 2010, 569 people claimed Yuki ancestry, with 255 of them full-blooded.
The focus of this portion of our web guide on American Indians and First Nations people is on the Yuki people. Topics related to the tribal government, tribal businesses, enterprises, schools, medical facilities, programs, and events are appropriate for this category, as are businesses or organizations operated by or for Yuki individuals.
Recommended Resources
Located in Covelo, California, along Highway 162 in the heart of Round Valley, the motel was purchased by the Round Valley Indian Tribes and renovated. The facility has seventeen rooms modeled in three different styles, each of which is featured here, with photos, descriptions, a list of amenities, and online booking. Other resources include a calendar of events, the address, a map showing its location, a telephone number, an email address, and an online contact form.
https://www.goldenoaksmotel.com/
The Class-II gaming facility in Covelo, California, has several games similar to Class-III. Its address, telephone number, and hours of operation are published on the website, along with a list of weekly promotions, a calendar of upcoming programs and special events, and an introduction to the Hidden Oaks Cafe. The cafe serves not only casino patrons but also the larger community, offering sit-down meals, meals to go, or catering services. Its menu is published on the website.
https://hiddenoakscasino.com/
Round Valley Indian Health Center
The non-profit corporation was established in 1968, and designed to meet the health care needs of the Round Valley Indian Tribes and the adjacent communities. Located in Covelo, in northern Mendocino County, the Center provides primary health care to about three thousand people living in Covelo and the adjacent Round Valley Indian Reservation. Its administrative staff and board of directors are introduced, and its behavioral health services, cancer care, and other services are outlined.
https://www.roundvalleyindianhealthcenter.com/
Round Valley Indian Tribes of the Round Valley Reservation
The federally recognized American Indian reservation is mostly in northern Mendocino County, California, with a portion extending north into southern Trinity County. The tribes consist of the Covelo Indian Community, an accumulation of several tribes, including the Yuki, who were the original inhabitants of Round Valley. The tribal government, member services, programs, events, enterprises, and job opportunities are posted on the site, which includes access to various forms.
https://rvit.org/
