Maidu

Maidu Tribe

The Maidu Tribe, historically located in California’s Sacramento Valley and Sierra Nevada, represents the entire Pujunan linguistic family. Each division within the tribe identified as Maidu but used local names to distinguish themselves. The tribe is divided into several groups, including the Maidu proper and the Nishinam. Villages were typically named after local places rather than having distinct identities. The tribe comprises numerous divisions and villages, reflecting a rich cultural and geographic organization within their society.

Maidu Indians

The Maidu Indians, meaning “persons,” were indigenous to California’s Feather and American Rivers, previously classified as their own language stock but now part of the Penutian family. They were divided into three dialect groups: Southern Maidu, Northeastern Maidu, and Northwestern Maidu, each occupying distinct areas. Their population, around 9,000 in the late 1700s, saw dramatic decline, with only 93 individuals recorded by 1930. Despite this, the Maidu have left a lasting cultural legacy in the region.