Pre-contact distribution of Wintun peoples | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 2,500[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Languages | |
| English,Wintun languages | |
| Religion | |
| Roundhouse religion,Christianity |
TheWintun are members of several relatedNative American peoples ofNorthern California, including theWintu (northern),Nomlaki (central), andPatwin (southern).[2][3] Their range is from approximately present-dayLake Shasta toSan Francisco Bay, along the western side of theSacramento River to theCoast Range. Each of these tribes speak one of theWintuan languages. Linguistic and archaeological evidence suggests that the Wintun people probably entered the California area around 500 AD from what is now southern Oregon, introducingbow and arrow technology to the region (Golla 2011: 205). There has beencarbon dating of several artifacts by UC Berkeley that dates back to around 10,000 years, and several of these artifacts have now beenrepatriated. Despite being a major influence on the region's history, there is still very little history on the Wintu due to centuries ofgenocide anddisplacement that still occur today along with continued destruction of sacred ceremonial and religious sites, often due to companies that ignore legal or ethical considerations.
