Lassik

The Lassik are an Indian tribe from the Athapaskan language group in northwestern California and split off from this. The name arose after the name of their last chief Las'-sik. They settled on the Eel River in California. In the north the athabasques were their neighbors, in the east the Wintun , in the south the Wailaki , from whom they were separated by the Kekawaka River, and in the west the Sinkine . Together with the Nongatl , Sinkyone (Sinkine), they are also called Eel River tribes.

Their houses were made from the bark of the Douglas fir. Their basket weaving differed from those of the Hoopa in their decorative elements. Their hunting method differed for a long time from those of other tribes in that they followed the fresh tracks of deer and elk and hunted them to the end without any breaks. But this type of hunting soon became obsolete.

They increasingly mingled with the Wintun from whom they adopted the habits.

Many of the Lassik died when the whites coveted their land, offered head bonuses and the children were driven into slavery. Some families still live in the vicinity of their former homes today. But while there were around 2000 Indians on the Eel River around 1800, the number has now decreased to 500.

See also

List of North American Indian tribes

Web links

• Die Lassik on accessgenealogy.com (English)