Okwanuchu

The traditional Okwanuchu language area is at the head of the Sacramento River and to the east, on the upper McCloud River. Our only information about this language comes from fewer than 100 words recorded early in the 20th century.

Map of the Shastan languages
Map of the Shastan languages (Golla 2011: 91)

Okwanuchu is a member of the Shastan language family, the other members of which are Konomihu, New River Shasta, and Shasta. Together the Shastan languages comprise one branch of the hypothesized Hokan language family. This additionally includes Chimariko, Esselen, Karuk, the Palaihnihan languages (Achumawi and Atsugewi), the Pomoan languages (Central Pomo, Eastern Pomo, Kashaya, Northeastern Pomo, Northern Pomo, Southeastern Pomo, and Southern Pomo), Salinan, Washo, Yana, and the Yuman languages (Cocopa, Kiliwa, Kumeyaay, Maricopa, Mojave, Pai, Paipai, and Quechan).

Selected archival materials at Berkeley

Further reading

  • Golla, Victor. 2011. California Indian languages. Berkeley: University of California Press.