Archives West Finding Aid

Culturally, the Yurok people are known as great fishermen, eelers, basket weavers, canoe makers, storytellers, singers, dancers, healers and strong medicine people. Before they were given the name "Yurok" they referred to themselves in their native language as “Oohl”, meaning “Indian people”. People from down river on the Klamath are known as Pue-lik-lo' (Down River Indian), those on the upper Klamath and Trinity are Pey-cheek-lo' (Up River Indian) and on the coast Ner-'er-ner' (Coast Indian). The Klamath-Trinity River is the lifeline of their people because the majority of the food supply, like ney-puy (salmon), Kaa-ka (sturgeon) and kwor-ror (candlefish) are offered to them from these rivers.

Similar to other tribal groups in California, Yurok people overcame the destruction of their villages, and assimilation attempts by non-native settlers. When government policy forbade the use of traditional languages and outlawed the practice of traditional ceremonies, Yurok people continued. Some dances stopped while others were revitalized. The late 1970s and 1980s were a time when the revitalization effort soared in the local area. The Jump Dance returned to Pek-won in 1984, a War Dance demonstration was held in the late 1980s, and communities came together to support the revitalization of Brush Dances along the river and the coast. In the year 2000, the White Deerskin Dance was held again at the village of Weych-pues. For several generations there were no cultural traditions or language being passed on. With so few Yurok families able to hold onto traditional ways, it appeared as though the attempts to eliminate the cultural traditions would be successful. With the help of many elders (who have since passed on), young people who were eager to learn Yurok traditions did so and for the past twenty years Yurok traditional ceremonies have continued.

[Information adapted from the “Our History” and “Religion” webpages of the Yurok Tribe Official Website; 05/08/2023]