Wintun ('Indians,' 'people'). One of
the 2 divisions of the Copehan
family, the other being the Patwin. The Wintun territory was
bounded on the north by Mt Shasta and the domain of the
Lutuamian and Shastan
families; on the south by a line running from the east boundary,
about 10 miles east of Sacramento river, due west through
Jacinto and the headwaters of Stony creek, Colusa County,
California, to Kulanapan territory. The east boundary began at
the headwaters of Bear creek, bearing south some miles east of
and parallel to McCloud river. From Pit river to the
neighborhood of Redding they occupied a triangular area east of
the Sacramento. On the west the Wintun territory was bounded by
that of the Kulanapan, Yukian, Chimarikan, and Quoratean
families, and the Wailaki tribe.
The Wintun division of the Copehan family is rather
homogeneous, the language, customs, and characteristics of the
tribes presenting comparatively slight variations. Powers
thought the Wintun were originally a sort of metropolitan tribe
for the whole of N. California below Mt Shasta. Physically they
were inclined to obesity; they were indifferent hunters but good
fishermen, and were abundantly supplied with dried salmon. Roots
of various kinds, manzanita berries, piñon
nuts, and acorns were used as food; and according to Powers
clover was eaten in great quantities in the blossoming season.
Dancing was a favorite amusement. Wintun marriage was
of the simplest character and the man seldom paid for his bride.
The dead were buried in ordinary graves, the bodies being
doubled up and wrapped in mats or skins. The Wintun language
presents many agreements with that of the Patwin division,
vocabularies showing about a third of the words to be Common to
both. For the Wintun subdivisions, see Copehan Family.
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