 A Wailaki man by Edward S. Curtis, c. 1924 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| California | |
| Languages | |
| English, formerly Eel River language | |
| Religion | |
| Animism (historically), Christianity |
The Eel River Athapaskans include the Wailaki, Lassik, Nongatl, and Sinkyone (Sinkine) groups of Native Americans that traditionally live in present-day Mendocino, Trinity, and Humboldt counties on or near the Eel River and Van Duzen River of northwestern California.
These groups speak dialects of the Wailaki language belonging to the Pacific Coast Athapaskan group of the Athapaskan language family which is prominently represented in Alaska, western Canada, and the southwestern U.S. Other related Athapaskan groups neighboring the Eel River Athapaskans included the Hupa-Whilkut-Chilula to the north, the Mattole on the coast to the west, and the Kato to the south.
The Whilkut, Nongatl and Lassik were essentially annihilated during the Bald Hills War in the 1860s.
Some Wailaki people are registered members of Round Valley Indian Tribes.