COLUSA, CA (MPG) – The history of Northern California’s Yahi people and their struggles during the California Gold Rush will be the subject of a presentation Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the Colusa County Library.
Steve Schoonover, author of “Before Ishi: The Life and Death of the Yahi,” will discuss the history of the Yahi and the events that contributed to the decline of their population during the 19th century.
The Friends of the Colusa County Library will host the presentation at 7 p.m. at the library, 738 Market St. Refreshments, including tea and cookies, will be available beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The Yahi were among the first groups of the Yana people to experience the effects of the California Gold Rush because their traditional lands were near the gold fields.
As settlers and miners entered the region, the Yahi faced the loss of traditional food sources and increasing conflicts over territory. Armed confrontations with settlers, who possessed firearms, contributed to substantial population losses.
Schoonover’s book examines the history of the Yahi beyond the accounts commonly associated with Ishi, whose story has become closely connected with the tribe’s history.
Rather than focusing on Ishi, Schoonover seeks to separate the documented history of the Yahi from the myths that developed around his life.
Schoonover is a longtime Chico journalist who spent approximately 40 years working for the Chico Enterprise-Record. He is now mostly retired.
The presentation will provide an opportunity for residents to learn about the Yahi people and the events that shaped their history in Northern California.