Mono (people)

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The Mono or Monache / Monoache are one of the three regional dialect groups or tribal groups of North American indigenous people in the cultural area of the Great Basin , which are generally known under the collective term Paiute or Piute . All three tribal groups (Mono, Northern Paiute, and Southern Paiute ) spoke (speak) variants of the Numic languages ​​of the Uto-Aztec language family , but historically never developed a political unit or tribal identity . Like most indigenous peoples, they simply referred to themselves as "people" or "the people", depending on the dialect.

Names and tribal designations

Today's tribal name as "Mono / Monache" is a loan word from the language of the hostile Yokuts, who, however, refer to the "Kutzadika'a / Kucadikadi Band" of the Northern Paiute who live around Mono Lake with Monoache ("fly larvae eater") whose autonym is also "eater of salt fly larvae " (derived from Kutsavi - "salt fly larva " and Dika'a - "eater"). Incidentally, the Mono also called these Northern Paiute Kwicathyhka ("fly larvae eater").

Since this southernmost Northern Paiute Band is referred to in historical sources and to this day simply as Mono Lake Paiute / Paviotso or Mono Lake Paviotso , both ethnicities are often confused with each other or even viewed as one and the same.

Regional tribal groups

The "Mono" lived on both sides of the Sierra Nevada in the border area of California and Nevada and were divided into two regional tribal or. Dialect groups, the border being the Sierra Nevada:

  • Owens Valley Paiute (Eastern Mono) or Numa, Nuumu or Nüümü ("people", "the people") on the east side of the Sierra Nevada in the Owens Valley near the Owens River and
  • Western Mono (Mono or Monache) or Nyyhmy, Nim or Nimi, Nium ("people", "the people") on the western side of the Sierra Nevada in the southern foothills near Mono Lake and in the Mono Basin

Misleadingly, historically and in most specialist books to this day, the "Mono Bands" are referred to either as Owens Valley Paiute (and generally assigned to the Northern Paiute) or as Mono / Monache - but both form a common ethnic group .

Both regional tribal / dialect groups spoke the mono language or Nim , which together with the language of the Northern Paiute (a dialect continuum) forms the western branch of the Numic languages ​​of the Uto-Aztec language family . Due to the geographical isolation and interact with the other tribes and peoples (recording of loan words or oftmaliger bilingualism ) of the time two different developed strongly over each other dialects the mutually difficult to understand are.

Today the "mono-language (Nim)" (including its two dialects) is one of the most endangered languages; among today approx. 1300 tribesmen of the "Western Mono (Mono or Monache)" only approx. 20 speakers and approx. 100 half-speakers speak the "Western / Western Mono" or the "Monachi / Monache" dialect (better known as: " Mono / Monache "or" Mono Lake Paiute "), of the approx. 1000" Owens Valley Paiute (Eastern Mono) "there are only under 30 active speakers of the" Eastern / Eastern Mono "or" Owens Valley Paiute "dialect.

Owens Valley Paiute (Eastern Mono)

Owens Valley Paiute woman weaving a basket

The "Eastern Mono Bands" on the east side of the southern Sierra Nevada in the border area of ​​California and Nevada in the Owens Valley ( Payahuunadü / Payahuunadu - "the place / land of flowing water") along the Owens River ( Wakopee ) and south to the Owens Lake ( Pacheta ), on the other hand, were predominantly sedentary and settled in permanent settlements along rivers or springs (or man-made canals). The more intensive farming by means of partly artificial irrigation enabled them to build up food supplies and thus, in contrast to the "Western Mono Bands", to feed larger groups. The sedentariness is also reflected in its socio-political organization in various "districts", the names of which usually ended in "patü / witü" ("place" or "place"); z. B. Kwina Patii / Kwina Patü ("Northern place / place" = "Round Valley"), Pitama Patü / Pitana Patü ("Southern place / place" = Bishop ), Ütü'ütü witü ("Hot place / place" = Benton ), Tovowaha Matii / Tovowahamatü / Tobowahamatü ("place / place with a natural hill" = Big Pine ) or Tuniga witü ( Tinemaha / Tinnemaha , "around the foot of the mountain place" = Fish Springs). They were also more aggressive and hostile towards neighboring Indian tribes - most recently in the "Owens Valley Indian War" (1862 to 1863), with allies Shoshone, Kawaiisu and Tübatulabal, they also fought the Americans who were advancing into their territory. They maintained a friendly relationship with the neighboring Northern Paiute Bands, which was strengthened by mutual marriages; many members of the "Eastern Mono" were therefore bilingual (Eastern Mono and Northern Paiute).

The tribal areas of the "Eastern Mono Bands" bordered in the northwest on the areas of the hostile Southern Sierra Miwok with which there were often conflicts, in the northeast various Northern Paiute Bands migrated, in the southeast and south the Timbisha Shoshone (Tümpisa Shoshoni) and Western Shoshone Bands , in the southwest the Tübatulabal (also: Kern River Indians ) and in the west the "Western Mono Bands".

They refer to themselves as Numa, Nuumu or Nüümü ("the people", "the people") or Nün'wa Paya Hup Ca'a 'Otuu'mu ("Coyote's children who live in the moat"), because loud they believed their mythological ancestor, Trickster Coyote, was, and they referred to the Owens Valley as the " moat ".

Western Mono (Mono or Monache)

The "Western Mono Bands" on the west side of the Sierra Nevada in the southern foothills near Mono Lake as well as in the Mono Basin and in the San Joaquin Valley , Kings River and Kaweah River (in today's counties Madera, Fresno and Tulare) lived mostly as typical semi-nomadic Hunters and gatherers of fishing, hunting and gathering as well as supplemented by agriculture. In winter, several families moved down to the river valleys and jointly built permanent settlements that were mostly used over several years. In the summer the winter settlements were abandoned and the family groups hiked as hunters and gatherers in the more protected and cooler altitudes of the mountains. Therefore, socio-politically, these smaller groups are sometimes not viewed as bands, but as local groups .

The tribal areas of the "Western Mono Bands" bordered the (mostly) hostile Southern Sierra Miwok in the north, the "Eastern Mono Bands" settled in the east, the Tübatulabal in the southeast and the Foothill Yokuts in the west .

Some "Western Mono Bands" formed bilingual "Western Mono / Yokuts Bands" with the bands of the "Foothill Yokuts" and partly took over their culture, so that the individual "Western Mono Bands" known today are only known by their "Yokuts" name. Even in the specialist literature, the original ethnic classification of the bands listed below is controversial; sometimes they are listed as "Foothill Yokuts" (who took over their language and culture with the arrival of the "Western Mono" and were soon bilingual) or as "Western Mono Bands" (who would have adopted the language of the dominant "Foothill Yokuts"). In particular, the allocation of the two bands along the Kings River - the Michahai / Michahay and Entimbich - is controversial.

They described themselves as Nyyhmy, Nim or Nimi, Nium ("the people", "the people") or as cawu h nyyhmy .

In contact with the Europeans, the following bands (or local groups) could be distinguished (from north to south):

  • Northfork Mono or Nim or Nium : the most isolated band of the "Western Mono", therefore not known under a "Yokuts" name. Their territory extended along the north bank of the San Joaquin River ( typici h huu ' - "important / large river") westward on both sides of the North Fork (and its tributaries) to Fine Gold Creek (there shared territory with the Yokuts); they established smaller settlements than the more southern "Western Mono Bands".
  • Wobonuch, Wobunuch, Woponunch or Wobonoch (plural: Wobenchasi): lived in the foothills west of the General Grant Grove (with the General Grant Tree ) from the confluence of the North Fork Kings River into the Kings River upstream along several tributaries and including the Kings Canyon , There were two significant settlements along the Mill Flat Creek alone, and their area includes today's Kings Canyon National Park .
  • Entimbich, Endimbich, Endembich or Indimbich (plural: Enatbicha): bilingual, possibly originally a Kings River Yokuts band . Lived along the Kings River south and west of the Wobonuch, their main settlement was in the area of ​​today's Dunlap municipality , further settlements were to be found along the Mill Creeks as well as the Rancheria Creeks and the White Deer Creeks.
  • Michahai or Michahay : bilingual, many mixed marriages with neighboring waksachi, often considered a band of the "Kings River Yokuts" . Lived along Cottonwood Creek, a tributary of St. John's River, a tributary of the Kaweah River north of the Auckland community .
  • Waksachi (plural: Wakesdachi): bilingual, but basically "Mono (Nim)" - language, partly adopted the culture of the neighboring Yokuts. Their tribal area was in the Long Valley south of Mill Creek and along the Eshom Creek, a tributary of the North Fork Kaweah River, other settlements were along the Lime Kiln Creek (also known as Dry Creek) such as. B. Ash Springs and Badger Camp.
  • Balwisha, Badwisha, Patwisha, Potwisha, Baluusha : bilingual, but basically "Mono (Nim)" - language, partly adopted the culture of the neighboring Yokuts; lived along the tributaries of the Kaweah River (Marble, Middle, East and South Forks) westwards to today's Terminous Reservoir (Lake Kaweah). The Sequoia National Park is located in their territory today , their trading partners were the Wukchumni Yokuts. One of their westernmost villages was on the left bank of the Kaweah River below the confluence of the North Forks and Middle Forks of the Kaweah River near the municipality of Three Rivers (near the confluence of the Middle, East and South Forks), to the east they had settlements upstream along the Middle and East Forks and Salt Creeks.

In addition to the bands mentioned above, the following bands are sometimes listed:

  • Posgisa, Poshgisha or Boshgesha : south of the San Joaquin River and the Northfork Mono along Big Sandy Creek to the upper reaches of Little and Big Dry Creek; According to reports from neighboring Yokuts, there were two settlements near Auberry. Presumably they are identical to the group later known as the "Auberry Band of Western Mono", whose Nim name is probably ? Unaħpaahtyħ ("Die, on the other side or south of the San Joaquin River ") or Unapatɨ Nɨm ("above (den San Joaquin River) people ").
  • Holkoma : had their settlements along several tributaries - especially on Big Creek, Burr Creek and Sycamore Creek above the confluence of Mill Creek in the Kings River. Sometimes they are also referred to synonymously as "Towincheba" or "Kokoheba", but these seem to be only settlement names of individual Holkoma villages.

Today's tribes / groups of the Mono

Owens Valley Paiute (Eastern Mono)

Today, the descendants of the "Eastern Mono" together with other tribes form six federally recognized tribes :

  • Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley (also: Big Pine Band of Owens Valley Paiute Shoshone Indians )
  • Bishop Paiute Tribe (formerly: Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the Bishop Community of the Bishop Colony )
  • Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the Lone Pine Community of the Lone Pine Reservation
  • Bridgeport Indian Colony (BIC)
  • Fort Independence Indian Community of Paiute Indians as well
  • Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe of the Benton Paiute Reservation (also: Benton Paiute Tribe )

Western Mono (Mono or Monache)

Today descendants of the "Western Mono" live in the state of California in five federally recognized tribes :

  • Northfork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California (Reservation: "North Fork Rancheria" in Madera County, approx. 320,000 m², administrative headquarters: North Fork, descendants of the "Northfork Mono" and some "Foothill Yokuts" and "Sierra Miwok", population: 1800 )
  • Big Sandy Rancheria of Mono Indians of California (Reservation: "Big Sandy Rancheria" in Fresno County, approx. 0.92 km², administrative seat: Auberry, descendants of the "Posgisa / Poshgisha Band", population: 96.)
  • Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono Indians of California (Reservation: "Cold Springs Rancheria" in the Sycamore Valley in Fresno County, approx. 0.63 km², administrative seat: Tollhouse, descendants of the "Holkoma Band", population: approx. 265 to 275, of which approx. 159 to 193 on the reservation)
  • Table Mountain Rancheria of California (Reservation: "Table Mountain Rancheria" in Fresno County, approx. 250,000 m², administrative seat: Friant, descendants of the "Chukchansi Yokuts Band", "Western Mono" and the "Kutzadika'a / Kucadikadi Band" of the Northerners Paiute, population: approx. 140 to 160, 11 of them on the reservation) as well
  • Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation (Reservation: "Tule River Reservation" in Tulare County , approx. 224.02 km², administrative seat: Porterville, majority "Yowlumne Band" and "Wukchumni Band" of the Yokuts, "Western Mono" as well some "Tübatulabal", population: 1857 of which 1033 on the reservation)

In addition, other "Western Mono" live in other communities that are not recognized as "tribes" by the US government:

  • North Fork Mono Tribe (formerly: North Fork Band of Mono , Madera, Fresno and Merced Counties, administrative headquarters: Clovis, descendants of the "Northfork Mono Band". Officially recognized as a tribe by the state of California as a so-called state-recognized tribe .)
  • Dunlap Band of Mono Indians (Fresno County, administrative seat: Dunlap, descendants of the "Entimbich" and "Wobonuch Bands")
  • Northern Band of Mono-Yokuts as well
  • Monachi Indian Tribe

The Mono Indian Tribe , which is also not recognized by the state , is only formed by members of the Kutzadika'a / Kucadikadi and Kawaiisu - no descendants of the actual Mono can be found here. Today, however, most of the descendants of the Kutzadika'a / Kucadikadi / Mono Lake Paiute live in tribes of the "Mono".

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ News Directory World News Headlines - Mono people
  2. ^ Owens Valley Indian Water Commission
  3. ↑ Liljeblad and Fowler, 412
  4. ^ Pritzker, 227
  5. ↑ the Entimbich were probably originally "Western Mono" and the Michahai / Michahay possibly "Foothill Yokuts" - but these bands lived in the border area of ​​the two ethnic groups and developed a new identity as a bilingual unit through marriage, adoption of the foreign language and sometimes culture who didn't care whether they were considered "Western Mono" or "Foothill Yokuts". Only with the establishment of the reservations were traditional social ties broken; today American English is the dominant language and the Entimbich have identified themselves as "Foothill Yokuts" since the 1950s.
  6. ^ Robert FG Spier: Monache: Language, Territory, and Environment

Web links

Eastern Mono (Owens Valley Paiute)

Western Mono (Mono or Monache)