Culture Maidu

1 culture

1.1 baskets , basketmaking
1.2 subsistence
1.3 housing
1.4 social organization
1.5 religion
1.6 languages
1.7 rock art

culture

the maidu hunters , gatherers.

baskets , basketmaking

the maidu exemplary basket weavers, weaving highly detailed , useful baskets in sizes ranging thimble-sized huge ones ten or more feet in diameter. stitches on of these baskets fine need magnifying glass see them. in addition closely woven, watertight baskets cooking, made large storage baskets, bowls, shallow trays, traps, cradles, hats , seed beaters. make these baskets, used dozens of different kinds of wild plant stems, barks, roots , leaves. of more common fern roots, red bark of redbud, white willow twigs , tule roots, hazel twigs, yucca leaves, brown marsh grass roots , sedge roots. combining these different kinds of plants, able make geometric designs on baskets in red, black, white, brown or tan. maidu elder marie potts explains, coiled , twining systems both used, , products handsomely decorated according inventiveness , skill of weaver , materials available, such feathers of brightly plumaged birds, shells, quills, seeds or beads- attached.

subsistence

a mortar ground solid rock near stream.

like many other california tribes, maidu hunters , gatherers , did not farm. practiced grooming of gathering grounds, fire primary tool purpose, , tended local groves of oak trees maximize production of acorns, principal dietary staple, according maidu elder marie potts:

preparing acorns food long , tedious process undertaken women , children. acorns had shelled, cleaned , ground meal. done pounding them pestle on hard surface, hollowed-out stone. tannic acid in acorns leached out spreading meal smoothly on bed of pine needles laid on sand. cedar or fir boughs placed across meal , warm water poured over, process took several hours, boughs distributing water evenly , flavoring meal.

the abundance of acorns made possible maidu store large quantities harder times, , used basket-making skills construct above-ground acorn granaries.

besides acorns, provided dietary starch , fat, maidu lived in environment rich in plant , animal life, of edible, , supplemented acorn diet edible roots (for nicknamed digger indians european immigrants), fish many streams , rivers, , other plant , animal species. seeds many flowering plants corms many wild flowers provided of sustenance people of area. wildlife of every sort utilized within spiritual reference. deer, elk, antelope multitude of smaller game utilized on regular basis. fish prime source of protein, starting multi run salmon, relying on local indigenous fishes supplied food year round.

housing

maidu housing, higher in hills , mountains, largely semi-underground. these houses sizable, circular structures twelve 18 feet in diameter, floors as 3 feet below ground level. once floor of house dug, pole framework built, covering of pine bark slabs upon heavy layer of earth placed along base of structure. central fire in house @ ground level, stone-lined pit , bedrock mortar process foods, meals ready feed family. summer dwelling, different structure built cut branches tied , fastened sapling posts, covered brush , dirt. summer shelters built principal opening facing east catch rising sun, , escape heat of afternoon.

social organization

maidu lived in small villages or tribelets no centralized political organization. leaders typically selected pool of men headed local kuksu cult, did not exercise day-to-day authority, being responsible settling internal disputes, , negotiating on matters arising between villages.

religion

the primary religious tradition of maidu revolved around kuksu cult, central california religious cult system based on male secret society , characterized kuksu or big head dances. maidu elder marie potts expresses maidu monotheistic people, greeted sunrise prayer of thankfulness; @ noon stopped meditation; , @ sun set communed kadyapam , gave blessings throughout day. traditional celebration maidu bear dance, when maidu honored bear during spring. bear s hibernation , survival through winter symbolized perseverance maidu, identified animal spiritually.

besides maidu, cult system followed pomo , patwin among wintun , later forced missionaries change religion.

languages

the maidu spoke language held authorities of penutian linguistic stock. while maidu spoke form of language, grammar, syntax , vocabulary differed sufficiently maidu separated large distances or geographic features discouraged travel might speak mutually unintelligible dialects of tongue.

there 4 principal divisions of language: northeastern maidu, yamonee maidu (known maidu); southern maidu or nisenan; northwestern maidu or konkow; , valley maidu or chico.

rock art

the maidu inhabited areas in northeastern sierra nevada. area , sites occupied contain many examples of rock art , petroglyphs. there confusion on whether rock art , other site remains previous populations of peoples or maidu people themselves. regardless, maidu people incorporated these works cultural system, due beliefs artifacts real, living energies integral part of world.