Last Updated on September 20, 2011 by
Kuneste Indians (Wailaki: ‘Indian’). The southernmost Athapascan group on the Pacific Coast, consisting of several tribes loosely or not at all connected politically, but speaking closely related dialects and possessing nearly the same culture. They occupied the greater part of Eel River basin, including the whole of Van Duzen Fork, the main Eel to within a few miles of Round Valley, the south fork and its tributaries to Long and Cahto Valleys, and the coast from Bear River range south to Usal. Their neighbors were the Wishosk on the north, the Wintun on the west, and on the south the Yuki, whose territory they bisect at Cahto, where they penetrate to the Pomo country.
Kuneste Nation
The Kuneste subdivisions are:
Alternate Spellings
- Ken´-es-ti. – Powers in Cont. N. A. Enthnol., III, 114, 1877 (own name).
- Kool. – A. L. Kroeber, inf’n, 1903 (Yuki name).
- Kuneste. – P. E. Goddard, inf’n, 1904 (Wailaki name).