Description
The Nomlaki (also Noamlakee, Central Wintu, Nomelaki) are a Wintun people native to the area of the Sacramento Valley, extending westward to the Coast Range in Northern California. Today some Nomlaki people are enrolled in the federally recognized tribes: Round Valley Indian Tribes, Grindstone Indian Rancheria or the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians. The Nomlaki were bordered by the Wintu (Wintun) in the north, the Yana in the northeast and east, the Konkow (Maiduan) in the east, the Patwin (Wintun) in the south, and the Yuki in the west.
Language
Nomlaki (also known as “Wintun”) is a Wintuan language
Culture
Nomlaki tribes lived in villages under the leadership of a chieftain. These villages had a population of 25 to 200 people. The chief's house was larger than the others and formed the center of the village, facing the water source. The Nomlaki's primary foods were acorns, grass seeds and tubers, deer, elk, rabbits, birds, and fish. All men hunted, but some specialized in certain techniques and methods. Hunting was done both in groups and individually with bows and arrows, clubs, nets, snares, and traps. Women, often working groups, gathered many different seeds and tubers, including at least eight varieties of acorns. In the spring, salt was obtained from stream banks.