Kucadikadi facts for kids
Nellie Charlie, a member of the Kucadikadi band, early 20th century
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| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
 United States ( California) |
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| Languages | |
| Northern Paiute language, English language | |
| Religion | |
| Traditional tribal religion, Shamanism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Northern Paiute people, Mono tribe (including Owens Valley Paiute), Western Shoshone, Yokuts |
The Kucadɨkadɨ are a group of Northern Paiute people. They live near Mono Lake in Mono County, California. They are the southernmost group of Northern Paiute. The Kucadɨkadɨ have lived in the Mono Lake–Yosemite area for a very long time.
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Understanding the Name Kucadɨkadɨ
The name Kucadɨkadɨ means "eaters of the brine fly pupae." Brine fly pupae are like the larvae of a fly. This was a very important food for them.
They are also known by other names. These include Kutsavidökadö, Koza'bittukut'teh, and Mono Lake Paiute. The tribe itself calls themselves Kootzaduka’a.
The term "Mono Lake Paiute" can be a bit confusing. The word "Mono" comes from the Yokuts language. The Yokuts people lived to the southwest. They called the people around Mono Lake monachie or monoache, which means "fly people." This was because fly larvae were a main food and trade item for them. Later, researchers thought this name referred to both the Kucadɨkadɨ and their southern neighbors, the Mono people. Even though the Mono people are not directly related, the name "Mono" also stuck to the lake where the Kucadɨkadɨ live.
The Yosemite-Mono Lake Paiute group believes that the Ahwahnichi people came from Chief Tenaya’s group. The Ahwahnichi were the first people to live in what is now Yosemite National Park. Chief Tenaya led a group of Paiutes who moved from the Mono Lake area. They settled in villages within Yosemite.
Kucadɨkadɨ Culture and Homeland
The Kucadɨkadɨ's homeland is around Mono Lake in eastern California. They also traveled to Walker Lake, Nevada to find food at different times of the year.
Mono Lake is in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The area around the lake is about 6,400 feet (1,950 meters) above sea level. The mountains nearby are even taller, from 9,000 to 13,000 feet (2,740 to 3,960 meters) high.
Mono Lake is very salty. Many kinds of waterfowl (birds that live near water) live there. It is also home to the brine fly, which was a key food source for the Kucadɨkadɨ.
Important foods for the Kucadɨkadɨ included piñon pine nuts. They also hunted animals like jackrabbits, deer, and mountain sheep. The coloradia Pandora moth was another food source.
The Kucadɨkadɨ lived in extended families. These families moved together as a group. They traded goods with the Owens Valley Paiute and Western Mono tribes.
Archaeologists have found three winter houses from the late 1800s. These houses were cone-shaped. They were built using posts from Utah juniper trees. This type of winter house, called a tomogani, was used by the Kucadɨkadɨ until about 1920.
Kucadɨkadɨ Language
The Kucadɨkadɨ speak the Northern Paiute language. This language is part of the Numic branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family.
The Northern Paiute language is spoken by many different tribes. These tribes live across the western United States. They are found from Mono Lake in California, stretching into Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho. The Northern Paiute language is also connected to the language of the Shoshoni people. The Shoshoni live in Death Valley and parts of California. It is also related to the languages of the Kawaiisu and Ute people. These tribes live in southern California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona.
Kucadɨkadɨ Basketry
The Kucadɨkadɨ are famous for their amazing basket weaving. They made both coiled baskets and twined baskets. They used plants like Bracken fern and redbud to add colorful designs to their coiled baskets.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, more non-Native people moved into their lands. This made it harder for the Kucadɨkadɨ to hunt and gather food in their traditional ways. So, selling their beautiful baskets to tourists became a way to earn money.
Non-Native people also brought glass beads. By 1908, Kucadɨkadɨ women started adding these small seed beads into their baskets.
Kucadɨkadɨ People Today
Many Kucadɨkadɨ members are part of federally recognized tribes. These include the Bishop Paiute Tribe, Washoe, Yokuts, Miwok, and Western Mono tribes.
Other Kucadɨkadɨ people are working to gain recognition. They are seeking to be recognized as the Sierra Southern Miwuk and the Mono Lake Indian Community. Their main office is in Lee Vining, California.
Notable Kucadɨkadɨ Basket Weavers
- Carrie Bethel (1898–1974)
- Nellie Charlie (1867–1965)
- Tina Charlie (1869-1962)
- Lucy Telles (about 1870/1885–1955/6)
