 Pre-contact distribution of Wintun peoples | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 2,500[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( California) | |
| Languages | |
| English, Wintun languages | |
| Religion | |
| Roundhouse religion, Christianity |
The Wintun are members of several related Native American peoples of Northern California, including the Wintu (northern), Nomlaki (central), and Patwin (southern).[2][3] Their range is from approximately present-day Lake Shasta to San Francisco Bay, along the western side of the Sacramento River to the Coast Range. Each of these tribes speak one of the Wintuan languages. Linguistic and archaeological evidence suggests that the Wintun people probably entered the California area around 500 AD from what is now southern Oregon, introducing bow and arrow technology to the region (Golla 2011: 205). There has been carbon dating of several artifacts by UC Berkeley that dates back to around 10,000 years, and several of these artifacts have now been repatriated. Despite being a major influence on the region's history, there is still very little history on the Wintu due to centuries of genocide and displacement that still occur today along with continued destruction of sacred ceremonial and religious sites, often due to companies that ignore legal or ethical considerations.
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- ^ California Indians and Their Reservations: P. San Diego State University Library and Information Access. 2010 (retrieved 30 June 2010)
- ^ Pritzker, 152
- ^ California Indians and Their Reservations: W. San Diego State University Library and Information Access. 2010 (retrieved 30 June 2010)