Swanton, John R. The Indian Tribes of North America. Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 145. Washington DC: US Government Printing Office. 1953.
Zuñi Indians. Located on the north bank of upper Zuni River, Valencia County, New Mexico. The Zuni constitute the Zunian linguistic stock. According to Cushing (1896), the Zuni are descended from two peoples, one of whom came originally from the north and was later joined by the second, from the west or southwest (from the country of the lower Colorado), who resembled the Yuman and Piman peoples in culture.
Yustaga Tribe. Meaning unknown. Yustaga Connections. No words of the Yustaga language have been preserved but circumstantial evidence indicates they belonged to the Timucuan branch of the Muskhogean linguistic stock, although occasionally the provinces of Timucua and Yustaga are spoken of as if distinct. Yustaga Location. Approximately between Aucilla and Suwannee Rivers, somewhat toward the coast. Yustaga Villages. The Yustaga villages cannot be satisfactorily identified though the missions of Asile, San Marcos, Machaba, and San Pedro seem to have belonged to it. Yustaga History. The Yustaga are first mentioned by Biedma (in Bourne, 1904), one of the chroniclers of De … Read more
Yurok – Signifying “downstream” in the language of the neighboring Karok. Also called: Kiruhikwak, by the Shasta of Salmon River. Weitchpec, a name sometimes locally used, especially in Hupa and Karok territory, to which Weichpec is at present the nearest Yurok village. Yurok Connections. The Yurok were originally regarded as an independent stock, later combined with the Wiyot into the Ritwan family, and still later identified by Kroeber and Sapir as a part of the great Algonquian family of the east. This last identification has not, however, met with entire acceptance. Yurok Location. On the lower Klamath River and along … Read more
Yuki. Derived from the Wintun language and meaning “stranger,” or “foe.” Also called: Chu-mai-a, Porno name. Noam-kekhl, Wintun name, meaning “west dwelling,” or “western tribe.” Yuki Connections.The Yuki constituted an independent stock called Yukian. Yuki Location. All the land lying in the drainage of Eel River above the North Fork, except for a stretch on South Eel River where the allied Huchnom were situated. Yuki Subdivisions: Huititno’m, on the South Fork of Middle Eel River. Onkolukomno’m, from the forks of the South Eel River to their sources. Sukshaltatano’m, on the North Fork of Middle Eel River. Ta’no’m, on main Eel … Read more
Yui Tribe. Meaning unknown. Connections.-(See Utina) Location. On the mainland 14 leagues inland from Cumberland Island and probably in the southeastern part of the present state of Georgia. Villages. They had five villages but the names of these are either unknown or unidentifiable. History. The name of the Yui appears first in Spanish documents. They were visited by the missionary at San Pedro (Cumberland Island) and appear to have been Christianized early in the seventeenth century. No individual mission bore their name and they are soon lost sight of, their history becoming that of the other Timucua tribes. Population. The … Read more
Yufera Tribe. This is the name of a town or group of towns reported as located somewhere inland from Cumberland Island, and perhaps in the present territory of Georgia. The name is derived through Timucua informants but it may have referred to a part of the Muskogee tribe called Eufaula.
Yuchi Tribe. Significance unknown, but perhaps, as suggested by Speck (1909), from a native word meaning “those far away,” or “at a distance,” though it is also possible that it is a variant of Ochesee or Oeese, which was applied by the Hitchiti and their allies to Indians speaking languages different from their own. Also called: Ani’-Yu’tsl, Cherokee name. Chiska, probably a Muskogee translation of the name of one of their bands. Hughchee, an early synonym. Round town people, a name given by the early English colonists. Rickohockans, signifying “cavelanders” (Hewitt, in Hodge, 1907), perhaps an early name for a … Read more
Yscani Indians. Meaning unknown. Also spelled: Ascani Hyscani Ixcani Yscani Connections. This was one of the confederated Wichita tribes and therefore without doubt related to them in speech, and thus of the Caddoan linguistic family. Yscani Location. The Yscani are first mentioned in connection with the Wichita and allied tribes on the South Canadian in the territory later assigned to the Chickasaw Nation. Part, however, were reported to be living 60 leagues farther toward the northwest. Yscani History. The Yscani evidently moved south from the above-mentioned location at the same time as the other tribes. They kept particularly close to the … Read more
Yokuts – The name for “person,” or “people,” in many of the dialects of the group. Also called: Mariposan, a name derived from Mariposa County, and applied to the stock to which these people were originally assigned by Powell. Noche, a name used by Games in 177576 (1900). Yokuts Connections. The Yokuts were originally considered a distinct linguistic family but have now been made a part of the large Penutian stock. Yokuts Location. – On the entire floor of San Joaquin Valley from the mouth of San Joaquin River to the foot of Tehachapi, and the adjacent lower slopes or … Read more
Yazoo Tribe: Meaning unknown. Yazoo Connections.-The associations of this tribe with the Koroa and the fact that their language contained an r sound make reasonably certain that they belonged to the Tunican group and stock. Yazoo Location. On the south side of Yazoo River about 4 French leagues above its mouth. (See also Arkansas.) Yazoo History. The Yazoo appear to have been the first of the tribes living on the lower part of the Yazco River to have established themselves there, and hence it was from them that the stream received its name. They are mentioned by La Salle and … Read more
Yavapai Indians. According to the Handbook of American Indians (Hodge, 1907, 1910), from enyaéva, “sun,” and pai, “people,” and thus signifying “people of the sun,” but the southeastern Yavapai interpreted it to mean “crooked-mouth people,” that is, a “sulky” people who do not agree with other peoples (fide Gifford, 1936). Also called: Apache Mohaves, in Rep. Office Ind. Aff., 1869, p. 92; 1870. Apaches, by Garcés in 1775-76 (Diary, p. 446, 1900) ; also by Spaniards. Cruzados, by Oñate in 1598 (Col. Doc. Ined., vol. 16, p. 276, 1864-84). Dil-zha, by White (MS.); Apache name meaning “Indians living where there … Read more
Yamasee Tribe. Meaning unknown, though it has been interpreted by Muskogee yamasi, “gentle.” The form given in some early writings, Yamiscaron, may have been derived from a Siouan dialect or from Timucua, as there is no r in any of the Muskhogean tongues. Yamasee Connections. The Yamasee town and chief names indicate plainly that they spoke a Muskhogean dialect and tradition affirms that it was connected most closely with Hitchiti, a contention which may be considered probable. Yamasee Location. The earliest references that we have place the Yamasee on Ocmulgee River not far above its junction with the Oconee. They … Read more
Yakima Indians were located on the lower course of Yakima River in Washington State.
Yadkin Tribe. Meaning unknown. Yadkin Connections. The Yadkin probably belonged to the Siouan linguistic family. Yadkin Location. On Yadkin River. Yadkin History. The Yadkin first appear in history in a letter by the Indian trader, Abraham Wood, narrating the adventures of two men, James Needham and Gabriel Arthur, whom he had sent on an exploring expedition to the west. They passed this tribe and town, which they call “Yattken,” in the summer of 1674. Lawson (1860) gives the name as Reatkin but applies it to the river, and there is no later mention of the people. Connection in which they … Read more
The following tribes at one time are recorded in history as having resided within the present state of Wyoming. If the tribe name is in bold, then Wyoming is the primary location known for this tribe, otherwise we provide the tribes specifics as it pertains to Wyoming and then provide a link to the main tribal page. Arapaho Indians Bannock Indians. Some Bannock ranged into western Wyoming. Cheyenne Indians. The Cheyenne hunted and warred to some extent in the eastern part of Wyoming; were long allied with the Arapaho. Comanche Indians. Before separating from the Shoshoni the Comanche probably occupied … Read more
Wyandot Tribe: Meaning perhaps “islanders,” or “dwellers on a peninsula.” Occasionally spelled Guyandot. At an earlier date usually known as Huron, a name given by the French from huré, “rough,” and the depreciating suffix -on. Also called: Hatindiaβointen, Huron name of Huron of Lorette. Nadowa, a name given to them and many other Iroquoian tribes by Algonquians. Telamatenon, Delaware name, meaning “coming out of a mountain or cave.” Thastchetci’, Onondaga name. Connection. The Wyandot belonged to the Iroquoian linguistic family. Wyandot Location. The earliest known location of the Huron proper was the St. Lawrence Valley and the territory of the … Read more
Woccon Tribe: Significance unknown. Woccon Connections. The Woccon belonged to the Siouan linguistic stock, their closest relations being the Catawba. Woccon Location. Between Neuse River and one of its affluents, perhaps about the present Goldsboro, Wayne County. Woccon Villages Tooptatmeer, supposed to have been in Greene County. Yupwauremau, supposed to have been in Greene County. Woccon History.-The first mention of the Woccon appears to be by Lawson writing about 1701, who recorded 150 words of their language. These show that it was nearer Catawba than any other known variety of speech. Lack of any earlier mention of such a large tribe … Read more
Wiyot. Properly the name of one of the three Wiyot districts but extended by most of their neighbors over the whole people. Also called: Dilwishne, Sinkyone name. Humboldt Bay Indians, popular term. Sulatelik, used by the Wiyot to designate their language, and approaching a tribal designation in its usage. Wishosk, probably a misapplication of the Wiyot name for their Athapascan neighbors. Wiyot Connections. In the Powellian classification the Wiyot were given an independent position as the Wishoskan stock. Later California investigators combined them with the Yurok under the name Ritwan but still later believed that they had established a relationship … Read more
Wishram Indians were located on the north side of Columbia River in Klickitat County, Washington.
The following tribes at one time are recorded in history as having resided within the present state of Wisconsin. If the tribe name is in bold, then Wisconsin is the primary location known for this tribe, otherwise we provide the tribes specifics as it pertains to Wisconsin and then provide a link to the main tribal page.