The Winnemem Wintu ("middle river people" or "middle water people") are a Native American tribe of Wintu origin located around the Shasta Dam in Redding, California. The Wintu are a part of a band of 9 tribes that all once inhabited the area of the McCloud River. They are not a federally recognized tribe, although they are working for federal recognition.

The Winnemem relate that in 1854, 42 Winnemem men, women, and children were killed by white settlers at Kaibai Creek, California. This action has become known as the Kaibai Creek Massacre

Since 1945 the McCloud and Sacramento River have been split by the Shasta Dam. The Winnemem is currently locked up in a protracted, albeit one-sided battle, with the California government over the proposed raising of the height of the Shasta Dam, to secure water, which would flood many of the Wintu's sacred sites. From September 12-16, 2004, they held their first "war dance" since 1876 as a protest.

Other important sacred sites of the tribe are Mount Shasta and Cold Spring Mountain . They are one of several tribes that feel that casinos and their proceeds destroy culture from the inside out. These tribes refuse to participate in the gaming industry.

Federal recognition

In the mid to late 1980's the Winnemem were accidentally erased from the Bureau of Indian Affairs list of recognized tribes. They have not been able to regain this recognition. Legislation sponsored by Senator Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004 gave the Winnemem the opportunity to regain recognition. However, the Winnemem claim that it required them to give up the fight over land. The Winnemem decided that land was more important than recognition, and the attempt failed.

External link

• http://www.winnememwintu.us

Hearing of the Winnemem Wintu before Congress

• http://indian.senate.gov/2002hrgs/060402hrg/Franco.PDF

Winnemem Wintu Tribal Timeline

• http://www.sacredland.org/PDFs/Wintu_Timeline.pdf