Karok Indians

Karok Indians. Properly Karuk, signifying in their own language “upstream,” but not used as a tribal designation.

• Ara, given by Gatschet (1890), signifying “man.”
• Ivap’i, Shasta name.
• Orleans Indians, a name sometimes locally used, especially downstream from the Karok territory.
• Petsikla, Yurok name, meaning “upstream.”

Karok Connections. Originally considered an independent stock, the Karok are now classed in a much larger linguistic connection known as the Hokan family. Their closest relatives are the Chimariko and Shasta.

Karok Location. On the middle course of Klamath River between the Yurok and Shasta and all of the branches of the Klamath except the upper course of Salmon River.

Karok Subdivisions. The Karok were divided into the Upper Karok above Independence Creek and the Lower Klamath below that stream.

Karok Villages

• Aftaram, on Klamath River, probably above the mouth of Salmon River.
• Ahoeptimi, 10 to 12 miles above Ashipak.
• Akoteli, a village or portion of a village near the mouth of Salmon River.
• Amaikiara, on the west side of Klamath River below a fall about a mile below the mouth of Salmon River.
• Aranimokw, Yurok name of a Lower Karok town on Klamath River.
• Ashanamkarak, at the fall just mentioned, and on the east side of Klamath River.
• Ashipak, on Klamath River a few miles above the mouth of Salmon River.
• Asisufunuk, at Happy Camp, at the mouth of Indian Creek.
• Aukni, Shasta name for a village above Happy Camp.
• Ayis, some distance above the mouth of Salmon River.
• Chamikininich, on the south or east bank of Klamath River in the Orleans district.
• Chiniki, on Klamath River below Camp Creek.
• Chinits, at Sims Ferry on Klamath River.
• Inam, at the mouth of Clear Creek.
• Inoftak, a village or section of a village near the mouth of Salmon River.
• Ishipishi, opposite Katimin, the Karok center of the world just above the mouth of Salmon River.
• Iwatak, a village or section of a village near the mouth of Salmon River.
• Katipiara, on the east bank of Klamath River above the flat at Orleans.
• Kalls, a village or section of a village near the mouth of Salmon River.
• Kumawer, Yurok name of a village above the mouth of Salmon River.
• Nupatsu, Shasta name of a village below Happy Camp.
• Oler, Yurok name of a village below Camp Creek.
• Panamenik, on the flat at Orleans.
• Sanipa, on Klamath River below Camp Creek.
• Segoashkwu, Yurok name of a village below Camp Creek.
• Shavuram or Sahwuram, on Klamath River above Tu’i.
• Tachanak, on the west bank of Klamath River at the mouth of Camp Creek.
• Ti, 10 to 12 miles above Ashipak.
• Tishrawa, a village or section of a village near the mouth of Salmon River.
• Tsofkaram or Tasofkaram, at Pearch on Klamath River.
• Tu’i, Yurok name of a village on Klamath River below Camp Creek.
• Unharik, a village or section of a village near the mouth of Salmon River.
• Ussini, Shasta name of a village at the mouth of China Creek.
• Wetsitsiko or Witsigo, Yurok name of a village in the Orleans district.
• Wopum, the Karok village farthest down Klamath River opposite Red Cap Creek.
• Yutuirup, a neighbor or suburb of Ishipishi.

Karok Population. The number of Karok were estimated by Kroeber (1925) at about 1,500 in 1770. In 1905, 576 were returned, and in 1910, 775, but the latter figure is probably too high, though the census of 1930 returned 755.