Yosemite Indian Chiefs.

  Everyone has heard of the first known Yosemite Chief, Chief Tenaya, but here are the some of the other Yosemite area Chiefs.

When some of the first European-Americans entered Yosemite and Hetch Hetchy they were met with the first inhabitants of the area. That was the Ahwahnees who were mainly Mono Paiutes.

The first known record of European-American entry into the high Sierras was the Walker Party in 1833. Walker reported that he encountered Paiutes as he made his trek accross the west.

In 1850, a year before Savage and the Mariposa Battalion entered Yosemite to capture Chief Tenaya, Joseph, Nate and William Screech entered Hetch Hetchy Valley just northwest of Yosemite Valley. There they encountered Paiutes camping in Hetch Hetchy.

http://thehive.modbee.com/?q=node/180

More history of Hetch Hetchy Indians link.

http://www.yosemite.ca.us/history/notes_on_hetch-hetchy_valley.html

The most famous Yosemite Chief was Chief Tenaya, leader of the Ahwahnees and founder of the Paiute Colony of Ahwahni (From Lafayette Bunnell, Discovery of the Yosemite, 1851- the first account of Tenaya)

http://www.abovecalifornia.com/lib/Houghton/18.php

Yet most people do not know some of the other Yosemite Chiefs.

Here are some of the oldest photos of Yosemite Indian Chiefs, sometimes called Captains.

The photo is labeled "Piute Indian Captain" from the 'Glories of the Yosemite, California.

The next photo shows a Chiefs lodge in Yosemite with baskets surrounding his home.

The photo is labeled "Piute Chief's Lodge" in Yosemite. One of the earliest photos of Yosemite Chiefs and Captains. This photo was done by famous British photographer Eadweard Muybridge. Muybridge took this photo while visiting a Paiute camp in Yosemite, See link with most of those Yosemite Indian photos;

http://thehive.modbee.com/?q=node/1620

Because of disease and killings by gold miners the Yosemite Indian population decreased dramatically. Still those Chiefs and Captains of the Yosemite Indian people persisted to maintain their people and culture through these hard times.

One of those Chiefs/Captains was Captain John, who was also referred to as Shibana or Poko-Tucket (Horse Eater). He was given the title Captain John after his father, Old Captain John, abdicated his title. The older Captain John was becoming very tired and when he gave up his title it was during the time when Yosemite-Mono Lake Paiutes were going through a difficult time. The influx of non-Indians had overwhelmed the Indians with diseases and harmful vices. So the younger Captain John led his people through one of the most harshest times in Yosemite-Mono Lake Indian history. It was reported that the young Captain John was the leader of the Mono Paiutes who threw the rock, killing Chief Tenaya for the their betrayal.

Here is Captain John (Shibana or Poko-Tucket)

Captain John (Shibana or Poko-Tucket)

In the photo Captain John (Shibana or Poko-Tucket) wears a bear, elk or buffalo robe. In several of the oldest books on Yosemite they write "Typical Yosemite Indian, one of the last Yosemite Chiefs."

When Captain John died in 1924 his obituary read. "He cured and killed many..."

Here Captain John wears the traditional Yosemite-Mono Lake Paiute headdress. Chiefs wore eagle feathers posititioned straight up out of a tuft of eagle down. Medicine men wore similar headdresses, but with magpie feathers which we Yosemite-Mono Lake Paiutes considered magic.

Captain John (Shibana or Poko-Tucket)

Even though she was not a Chief or Captain. Mary, also known as "Mono" Mary, daughter of Captain John, was a very well known fixture in Yosemite. In olden days around Yosemite-Mono Lake women were not Chiefs or Captains. No women were Captains or Chiefs in Miwok tribal areas, but they could be doctors. In the oldest Indian census rolls no woman has the identification as Captain or Chief.

Mono Mary, Well Known Yosemite Native woman.

The photo above was taken around 1900 and in the book by Galen Clark about the Yosemite Indians.

One of the other famous Captains was Captain Sam (Saya-Wega-Node). Captain Sam was married to Susie Sam. Captain Sam was a Paiute and his wife Susie was Paiute or Paiute/Washoe. They had several children. They spent 1/2 year in Yosemite and rest of the year at Mono Lake or Coleville. Most of their children and grandchildren were some of the most famous basket weavers of Yosemite and their baskets are well known and well renowned. Captain Sam along with Captain Jim established the Bridgeport Paiute Colony and Coleville Indian Colony. Later after the death of Susie in August of 1903, Captain Sam married Maggie John. Maggie was the wife of Long Valley John, but married Captain Sam after Long Valley John's death. The Sams/Toms spent most of their time between Bishop, Coleville, Mono Lake and Yosemite.

Captain Sam (Saya-Wega-Node) at June Lake, Mono County CA.

Captain Sam's children and grandchildren are the most famous Paiute basket makers of Yosemite.

Along with Captain Sam, Captain Jim (Na'a), had some of the most children around Mono Lake and Yosemite of all the chiefs. Captain Jim or Na'a (Father) was the Paiute Chief, who with his family, roamed the northern parts of Yosemite and Hetch Hetchy. Captain Jim and his wife Patsy (He-donee) also had several children who were famous basket makers of Yosemite. Tina Jim-Charlie (We-tonee) and Nellie Jim-Charlie (Besa-Yoona) were both married to Paiute Captain Young Charlie (Suduwee). Some of their baskets along with the descendents of the Sams made the most beautiful baskets that Yosemite-Mono Lake is known for.

Photo of Captain Jim (Na'a) in 1901.

Below is a photo of Nellie Jim-Charlie, a famous Yosemite-Mono Lake Paiute basketmaker. Nellie was the daughter of Paiutes Captain Jim and Patsy and wife of Yosemite-Mono Lake Paiute Young Charlie. In the 1880 census of Yosemite village it shows Young Charlie, Captain Rueben and Paiute Tom Hutchings, the first mailman of Yosemite, as the only Indians living in Yosemite. Links to 1880 Mariposa Yosemite village. Check mark next to name means Indian.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ca/mariposa/census/1880/41-11.gif

http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ca/mariposa/census/1880/41-12.gif

Nellie Jim-Charlie (Besa-yoona) Yosemite-Mono Lake Paiute surrounded by baskets.

One of the western Yosemite chiefs was Captain George Dick also known as One-Eyed Dick (Kai-Pooee) and several other nicknames. He was a Yosemite-Mono Lake Paiute who married Mary and had Sally Ann Dick-Castenegtto and Charlie Dick, who was employed at Yosemite lodge as the official woodcutter. Charlie later married Cosie Hutchings, Yosemite Paiute. Captain Dick was related to Lancisco Wilson. They both were descendent from "Topee na'a" or Rock Father in Paiute. They were famous Yosemite Paiute leaders.

Captain Dick also known as One-Eyed Dick.

Even thought the Yosemite park service claims to have a photo of Lancisco Wilson we believe it has not been verified since Lancisco reportedly died around 1885. Here is Lancisco Wilson's grave inside Yosemite National park.

Lancisco Wilson's grave marker.

Captain Rueben was another Yosemite-Mono Lake Paiute Captain, but there is no photo of him, but there is a photo that states to be one of his descendents. Dick Rueben. Possibly one of those seated in front.

Jack Lent, back left, right is Joe Lent. Ancestors of Yosemite-Mono Lake Paiute area. One of the men seated in front could possibly be descendent of Captain Rueben.

Around 1891 a group of Yosemite-Mono Lake Paiute men and women, along with some other Indians signed a petition to congress for redress for the taking of Yosemite from them. Yosmite-Mono Lake Paiutes Captain Rueben, Lancisco Wilson, the Bills, the Johns, Sams and Toms were some of the signers.

Capt. Paul was another Yosemite area Indian, but there is not much known about him. His tribal affiliation was not known, even though some at the park claim they knew, but there was no verification on that. We cannot make guesses like some others do when dealing with tribal affiliation. However his Indian name on the Petition to Congress on behalf of the Yosemites is Soponiche. Saponee or Soponich is Paiute for someone who was either 1/2 Mexican or Spanish. He spent most of his time around Coulterville.

Capt. Paul (Soponiche)

Years later there was Chris Brown, also known as Chief Lemee. He was a self-described Chief, but he did not lead any of the Yosemite Indians in tribal affairs, but entertained Yosemite park visitors and guests. He would often tell "tales" and elaborate on Indian knowledge for white tourists. We do know that he was a descendent of Bill "Mono" Brown who was his Grandfather on his father's side. Mono meant he was a Mono Paiute. Lemee's mother was Lena Rube, daughter of Old Rube, Paiute or Paiute/Washoe. Old Rube's father was Tookum or Tukum which means "One who is always eating" in Yosemite-Mono Lake Paiute. Tookum or Tukum had multiple wives like most Paiute men in olden times. Old Rube's mother was said to be a Washoe. Later some of the Rubes ended up in the Washoe area around Coleville, California. Tookum was also the father of Old Mike, a Yosemite-Mono Lake Paiute. Lena's mother was Annie Jim, daughter of Captain Jim, the Paiute who roamed Hetch Hetchy and Northern Yosemite.