The Modoc Tribe
by Allison R.

The Modoc, meaning "southerners," lived in southeast Oregon, and northern California. The area where the Modoc lived included Klamath Lake, Modoc Lake, Tule Lake, Lost River Valley and Clear Lake.

In the winter, the Modoc made their homes out of dugout lodges in the mountain sides. Some of the dugout lodges can be seen in the Lava Beds National Monument. Their summer huts were made by weaving together tule reeds.

The Modoc were nomadic hunters and gatherers. They survived on fish, game, duck, seeds, roots and berries. The Modoc made fishing rafts and baskets out of woven tule reeds to use while gathering food. Most of the time, they would eat the berries fresh, but they always saved some for winter by drying the berries in the sun or by a fire. The root the Modoc liked best was called the "wild potato." The "wild potato" was either boiled or baked on hot stones.

The Modoc was a very aggressive tribe. The Modoc men were best known for attacking white settlers on the South Emigrant Trail, and later, the Modoc War. The Modoc were upset with the new settlers, because the settlers took over the Modocs traditional hunting grounds. After, the Modoc men continued to attack the settlers. The Modoc were removed from their homes, and then placed on the Klamath Reservation. Kintpuash, also known as Captain Jack, was the most famous Modoc man. He led the men back to fight for their original land.

The Modoc women would generally make their family a hot meal every day. Often, the hot meal was soup made from meats and vegetables, flavored with berries or roots. The women also were responsible for gathering fruits and berries. The women made most of the clothing. The women also took acre of the children.

The Modoc women wore simple dresses. The men wore pants in layers of clothing on the top. Many of their clothes were made of animal skins. The Modoc made moccasins out of tule reeds. The modoc did not wear feathers in their headdresses.

The religion of the Modoc is not very well known. Historians know that the number five was very important to their traditions. An example of this is in the Shuyuhalsh, a five-night dance for adolescent girls. Another tradition of the Modoc was to use a sweat lodge for mourning and purification ceremonies.

The Modoc and the Klamath languages are part of the Plateau Penutian languages. The Modoc called themselves "Moatokni Maklaks," which means "people from the south." There are only 500 Modoc Indians in the United States.

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