Takelma Indian Tribe Location

Takelma. Own name, meaning "those dwelling along the river."

    Kyu'-kŭtc hítclûm, Alsea name meaning "people far down the stream
(or country)."
   Lowland Takelma, of Berreman (1937).
   Na-tcté tûnnĕ, Naltunne name.
   Rogue River Indians, from their habitat.

Connections

Together with the Latgawa, the Takelma constituted the Takelman linguistic stock. It is possible that this is distantly connected with the Shastan stock of northern California.

Location

On the middle course of Rogue River from above Illinois River to about Grant's Pass and on the northern tributaries of Rogue River between these limits and the upper course of Cow Creek; also south nearly to the California boundary.

Villages

The following names were recorded by J. O. Dorsey mainly in one of the Athapascan dialects of the region:

Hashkushtun, on the south side of Rogue River.
Hudedut, at the forks of Rogue River and Applegate River.
Kashtata, on the south side of Rogue River above Leaf Creek and Galice Creek. Kthotaime, on the south side of Rogue River.
Nakila, on the south side of Rogue River about 10 miles above Yaasitun. Salwahka, near the mouth of Illinois River or one of its tributaries.
Seethltun, on the south side of Rogue River, the village nearest the Chastacosta. Sestikustun, on the south side of Rogue River.
Sewaathlchutun, ibid.
Shkashtun, ibid.
Skanowethltunne, ibid.
Talmamiche, ibid.
Talotunne, ibid.
Tthowache, on the south side of Rogue River near "Deep Rock".
Yaasitun, on the south side of Rogue River.
Yushlali, ibid.

The following names, probably covering in part the same towns, were recorded by Dr. Edward Sapir in 1906, and are enumerated from the Latgawa country downstream:

Hatil, east of Table Rock.
Gelyalk, below Table Rock.
Dilomi, near the falls of Rogue River.
Gwenpunk.
Hayaalbalsda.
Daktgamik.
Didalam, on the present site of Grant's Pass, the county seat of Josephine County.
Daktsasin or Daldanik, on Rogue River near Jump Off Joe Creek.
Hagwal, on Cow Creek.
Somouluk.
Hatonk.

Population

Mooney (1928) estimates the entire Takilman stock at 500 in 1780. Only 1 was returned under that name by the census of 1910, but under the general head of "Rogue River" the Indian Office Report for 1937 gives two bodies of Indians numbering 58 and 46 individuals, respectively.

Connection in which they have become noted

Together with the Latgawa, the Takelma are remarkable for the peculiarity of their language, accentuated by the fact that they are almost entirely surrounded by Athapascan peoples. A post village called Takilma in Josephine County, Oreg., perpetuates the name.

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Notes About the Book:

Source: The Indian Tribes of North America, by John R. Swanton, 1953, Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 145, US Government Printing Office, Washington DC.

Online Publication: The manuscript was scanned and then ocr'd. Minimal editing has been done, and readers can and should expect some errors in the textual output.

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