KÁRUK MEDICINE WOMAN
ELIZABETH CASE
A respected Káruk elder, Elizabeth was was born in a small Káruk village on the Salmon River in Northern California that, in 1875, became Somes Bar. She later moved to the Quartz Valley Indian Reservation where she was a major contributor in rejuvenating the Karuk language, culture and history. Throughout her life, Elizabeth was a teacher for young girls. It was very important to her that girls learn to respect themselves and others in the traditional ways. As they entered womanhood, she guided them through the Flower Dance coming-of-age ceremonies. During the early 1970s, Elizabeth worked alongside other elders to bring back one of the ancient ceremonial healing dances, the Brush Dance. She was considered to be a medicine woman from that point on and continued with her work until the early 1990s.
SARA NESSBITT BARNEY - a renowned basketmaker, Sara was also a collector of many Káruk baskets and ceremonial regalia. She took pride in her culture and enjoyed sharing stories about her childhood, which was spent on the KLAMATH RIVER. Her love for family was exhibited in the traditional patterns and designs that were woven into her baskets. A private and quiet woman, Sara’s personality shined when she shared her stories, baskets and other handiwork with the public.
THELMA THOM - a knowledgable Hupa elder, Thelma was respected by many as medicine woman - but she never wanted to be called that. Formerly married to Káruk medicine man Charlie "Red Hawk" Thom, she supported him for years in his cultural and spiritual endeavors. Devoted to the traditions and values of her Native culture, Thelma was as gentle a teacher as she was a powerful seer. She was revered and loved by many people.
LESTER ALFORD, Sr - one of Charlie Thom's older brothers, Lester was a respected elder of Karuk and Shasta heritages who was instrumental in forming the Quartz Valley Indian Reservation (which is flourishing today). Even though he was sent to Indian Boarding School, which prevented him from learning the Káruk language, he spent much of his adult life contributing his knowledge of the Karuk and SHASTA cultures for the people in his communities. A strict disciplinarian with a big heart, Lester influenced many younger people with his moral values, wisdom, encouragement and good will. His legacy continues through his children, who work in various departments with the Káruk Tribe and in other California Native communities.
LESTER ALFORD, Sr - one of Charlie Thom's older brothers, Lester was a respected elder of Karuk and Shasta heritages who was instrumental in forming the Quartz Valley Indian Reservation (which is flourishing today). Even though he was sent to Indian Boarding School, which prevented him from learning the Káruk language, he spent much of his adult life contributing his knowledge of the Karuk and SHASTA cultures for the people in his communities. A strict disciplinarian with a big heart, Lester influenced many younger people with his moral values, wisdom, encouragement and good will. His legacy continues through his children, who work in various departments with the Káruk Tribe and in other California Native communities.
LESTER ALFORD, Sr - one of Charlie Thom's older brothers, Lester was a respected elder of Karuk and Shasta heritages who was instrumental in forming the Quartz Valley Indian Reservation (which is flourishing today). Even though he was sent to Indian Boarding School, which prevented him from learning the Káruk language, he spent much of his adult life contributing his knowledge of the Karuk and SHASTA cultures for the people in his communities. A strict disciplinarian with a big heart, Lester influenced many younger people with his moral values, wisdom, encouragement and good will. His legacy continues through his children, who work in various departments with the Káruk Tribe and in other California Native communities.
FANNY FISHER - Káruk elder Fanny Fisher was raised on the Salmon River, in Scott Valley, California, at the foot of the Marble Mountain Wilderness. A quiet, knowledgable cultural practitioner, Fanny's greatest joy was talking with the people of the Klamath and Salmon Rivers, sharing stories about the old Káruk ways. A proficient basketweaver, she also enjoyed collecting acorns and pine nuts. Blessed with a smile that was “worth more than anything”, Fanny was loved by all who knew her. CLICK for FANNY FISHER VIDEO
FANNY FISHER - Káruk elder Fanny Fisher was raised on the Salmon River, in Scott Valley, California, at the foot of the Marble Mountain Wilderness. A quiet, knowledgable cultural practitioner, Fanny's greatest joy was talking with the people of the Klamath and Salmon Rivers, sharing stories about the old Káruk ways. A proficient basketweaver, she also enjoyed collecting acorns and pine nuts. Blessed with a smile that was “worth more than anything”, Fanny was loved by all who knew her. CLICK for FANNY FISHER VIDEO
FANNY FISHER - Káruk elder Fanny Fisher was raised on the Salmon River, in Scott Valley, California, at the foot of the Marble Mountain Wilderness. A quiet, knowledgable cultural practitioner, Fanny's greatest joy was talking with the people of the Klamath and Salmon Rivers, sharing stories about the old Káruk ways. A proficient basketweaver, she also enjoyed collecting acorns and pine nuts. Blessed with a smile that was “worth more than anything”, Fanny was loved by all who knew her. CLICK for FANNY FISHER VIDEO
FANNY FISHER - Káruk elder Fanny Fisher was raised on the Salmon River, in Scott Valley, California, at the foot of the Marble Mountain Wilderness. A quiet, knowledgable cultural practitioner, Fanny's greatest joy was talking with the people of the Klamath and Salmon Rivers, sharing stories about the old Káruk ways. A proficient basketweaver, she also enjoyed collecting acorns and pine nuts. Blessed with a smile that was “worth more than anything”, Fanny was loved by all who knew her. CLICK for FANNY FISHER VIDEO
Traveling down the Klamath River in remote Northern California to the ancient Káruk ceremonial site of Katamin (on left) Photo © Marguerite Lorimer
KÁRUK TERRITORY
MAPS OF THE
Click for the different MEANINGS of the name Walking Backwards
Káruk people have lived in the Klamath Mountains and along the upper parts of the Klamath River for thousands of years. Káruk artifacts dating over 10,000 years have been discovered. Today, the Káruk Tribe is one of the largest tribes in California.
Káruk tribal lands span almost 2 million acres in the steep canyons, mountains and shores of Northern California's Klamath River Basin. Ka'tim'îin is the Káruk Tribe's "Center of the World". Located along the Klamath River (Ishkeesh), it is a powerful place of healing and ceremony, where Káruk people have lived and prayed, according to their creation stories, "since time began".
Sandy Bar Bob and his wife, both Káruk, 1923.
Born in a place of natural abundance and innocent beauty, they survived unimaginable hardships in the aftermath of the Gold Rush
Once known for its legendary salmon runs, the Klamath River and its surrounding mountains, majestic forests, crystal-clear lakes, bountiful wildlife and medicinal herbs have sustained the Káruk people and neighboring tribes for thousands of years.
Known as the "Heart of the Klamath” or "Gateway to the Marble Mountains", Happy Camp (áthith'thúf-voon'nuupma ni'áraamsiip) became famous in the mid-1800s for its abundant, easy-to-find supply of gold. At one time called Murderer's Bar because of all its violence, the town was officially named HAPPY CAMP in 1852. After the Gold Rush, salmon and steelhead fishing, and logging became major industries. Happy Camp is the present-day headquarters of the Káruk Tribe, and is governed by a tribal council of nine members.
The following list of Káruk villages were located in Northern California's Klamath River bioregion, as reported in the Handbook of American Indians in 1906:
Amaikiara, Aperger, Apyu, Aranimokw, Ashipak,
Asisufuunuk, Chainiki, Chawakoni, Chinits,
Couth, Homnipa, Homuarup, Ift, Inam, Inotuks,
shipishi, Ishwidip, lyis, Ka'tim'îin, Katipiara,
Kokaman, Kworatem, Ohetur, Olegel, Oler,
Opegoi, Panamenik, Pasara, Sawuara,
Shanamkarak, Shegoashkwu, Sumaun,
Sunum, Supasip, Tishrawa, Tsano,
Tsofkara, Tui, Uchapa, Unharik, Wetsitsiko,
Wopum, and Yutoyara
Indigenous inhabitants of the Klamath River bioregion include the SHASTA NATION, whose original ancestral territories encompassed enormous parts of what is now northernmost California and Southern Oregon, and also some of the middle and upper parts of the Klamath River; the YUROK, whose tribal lands include the Pacific mouth of the Klamath and lower regions of the Klamath River; the HUPA, who call parts of the Trinity and lower Klamath Rivers their tribal home; the KÁRUK whose ancestral lands include the mountains, steep canyons, surrounding lands and shores of the middle Klamath River and parts of the lower Salmon River; and the present-day KLAMATH TRIBES of Modoc, Klamath and Yahooskin Band of Northern Paiute, who until 1864 lived separately throughout areas of the desert valleys, mountains, lakes and wetlands in Southern Oregon and Northern California and along the shores of parts of the Klamath River in Southern Oregon.
