Patwin facts for kids
The Patwin (also called Patween or Southern Wintu) are a group of Wintun people. They have lived in Northern California for a very long time. The Patwin are the southern part of the larger Wintun family. They have been native to California since about 500 AD.
The Patwin people shared borders with many other groups. To the northwest were the Yuki. The Nomlaki (another Wintun group) lived to the north. In the northeast were the Konkow (Maiduan people). The Nisenan (Maiduan) and Plains Miwok were to the east. The Bay Miwok lived to the south. The Coast Miwok were in the southwest. Finally, the Wappo, Lake Miwok, and Pomo lived to the west.
The "Southern Patwins" lived in the area between what is now Suisun, Vacaville, and Putah Creek. By the 1800s, Spanish and other European settlers had arrived. These settlers caused the Patwin to live in smaller groups. Some of these groups included the Ululatos (near Vacaville) and Labaytos (near Putah Creek). Other groups were the Malacas (Lagoon Valley), Tolenas (Upper Suisun Valley), and Suisunes (Suisun Marsh and Plain).
In 1999, Patwin remains were found when building the Mondavi Center. This happened at the University of California, Davis. To honor the Patwin people, the university built a Native American Contemplative Garden. This special garden is located within the Arboretum.
Contents
What Language Did the Patwin Speak?
The Patwin people spoke a language called Patwin. This language is part of the Southern Wintuan language family.
How Many Patwin People Were There?
It is hard to know exactly how many native people lived in California before Europeans arrived. Experts have made different guesses. Alfred L. Kroeber thought that in 1770, about 12,000 Wintun people lived there. This number included the Patwin, Nomlaki, and Wintu groups.
Another expert, Sherburne F. Cook, estimated the Patwin and Nomlaki together at 11,300 people. He believed about 3,300 of these were Southern Patwin. Later, he changed his estimate for the Southern Patwin to 5,000 people.
By 1910, Kroeber estimated only about 1,000 Wintun people remained. By the 1920s, very few Patwin were left along Putah Creek or in the surrounding area. Today, about 2,500 people are descendants of the Wintun groups. These include the Patwin, Nomlaki, and Wintu. Only three Patwin (Wintun) rancherías are officially recognized by the government.
Important Patwin Villages
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The Patwin people lived in many different villages. Here are some of their known village names:
Famous Patwin People
Some Patwin individuals became well-known for their contributions:
- Mabel McKay (1907–1994) was a talented basket weaver and a respected healer.
- Sem-Yeto (around 1798–1851) was an important leader and diplomat in the 19th century. He is also known as "Chief Solano."
See also
In Spanish: Patwin para niños
