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 River.
- Ukomno’m, about Round Valley on the north side of Middle Fork.
- Utitno’m, about the forks made by the Middle and South Eel Rivers.
- Witukomno’m, on the south side of Middle Eel River, especially on its branches.
Yuki Villages
The following villages constituted a group in the northern portion of Round Valley west of the agency: Chochhanuk, Mameshishmo U’wit, Hake, Son, and there were still others whose names have been forgotten.
There was another group in the northern part of Round Valley east of the agency and northeast over the hills to include Williams Valley: Porno, in Round Valley, and, in successive order upstream in Williams Valley, Mo’t-huyup, Kilikot, Lelhaksi, Nonakak, Yukuwaskal, Moyi.
A third group was in the northeastern corner of Round Valley and eastward to Middle Eel River, as follows: Titwa or Onans, Sonkash, Molkus, (all in Round Valley), and other villages east of the valley toward the river, whose names and sites are not known.
The names of six subdivisions of the Ta’no’m are known: Kichilpitno’m, Kashansichno’m, Pomahanno’m, Mantno’m, Hanchhotno’m, and Ulamolno’m. Probably these corresponded to the Ukonno’m groups. Names of places are: Kashanrich, Pomahan, and Hanchhot.
The following names belong to settlements or communities in various parts of the Yuki territory:
- Alniukino’m, in the northwest part of Round Valley.
- K’ilikuno’m, in the north or lower end of Eden Valley.
- Witukomno’m, a village near the head of Eden Valley.
- Sukano’m, Sonlanlno’m, Chakomno’m, and Chahelilno’m, names of parts of a group of unknown designation, between the Ukomno’m and the Witukomno’m.
- Liltamno’m and Nonlachno’m (perhaps synonymous), at Bluenose north or northeast of Round Valley.
- Ukachimno’m, in Poorman’s Valley, northeast of Round Valley.
- Shipima°ino’m and Kichilukomno’m, in Williams Valley; one of these may be the name of the second group given above, in Round Valley.
- Ma°lchalno’m, at one of the heads of Middle Eel River.
- Onkolukomno’m, in Gravelly Valley near Hullville.
- Hunkalich, a village near Hullville.
- Matamno’m, a group perhaps belonging to the Witukomno’m division.
Yuki Population. Kroeber (1932) estimates 2,000 Yuki in 1770; the census of 1910 returned 95, and that of 1930, 177, including the Yuki, Coast Yuki, and Huchnom.