Kuksu
Maidem Kodom
2010
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist
The First Man: Kuksu
Table Mountain above Oroville, California, is the legendary Garden
of Eden of the Concow Maidu. It was there that the first human couple
was created from mud. The first man was Kuksu and his bride was
Morningstar.
TABLE MOUNTAIN LEGENDS
Table Mountain is the old location of the hamlet of Hudli. The Flint
Mines with material for making stone tools was up on Table Mountain.
Also the war dance area could be found there. Numerous sites related to
old stories are set in the lava rock formations. 'The Bird Who Flew So
Fast He Could Not Be Heard' can be found on the high cliffs. In the
valley of Table Mountain are great monolithic lava stones that
represent Wonomi, the Earth Maker and also the Great Lizard, who is
named Usbuki. Usbuki is the warrior power. Near Usbuki is Henokano,
the Coyote, or Trickster.
Many of the ideas in the above paragraph were recorded by Coyote
Man, or Bob Rathbun, back in the 1970's and can be found on his
map of the Concow Maidu country. He wrote a book called 'Sun,
Moon, and Stars' and also 'The Destruction of the People.' These
books were popular in their day. I hope copies can still be found, as
they are real treasures of the Concow Maidu culture.
Bob Rathbun published many of Tom Epperson's stories. Tom
passed away in 1974; he was one of the greatest Maidu storytellers.
Brian Beavers was another important source for Rathbun.
*
And every school kid from modern Oroville has heard the story of
how the Sutter Buttes hear Marysville used to be the top of Table
Mountain. Some embellish this modern folk tale with the mention
of how a giant was involved in moving this vast amount of rock
so many miles. This is not a Concow Maidu legend, but my section
on 'Legends of Table Mountain' would not be complete without this
story.
THE OLD NAMES FOR OROVILLE
On Coyote Man's map Oroville is called Opatoni. Near the site of
Oroville is another Maidu village called Siltamona.
Oroville is the place where the Kuksu Dream Society was first
created by the Concow Maidu people.
A FEW NOTES ON ISHI
Later Oroville was the place where Ishi, the famous Yahi Indian
was found--supposedly the last uncivilized Native American.
He was found in a slaughterhouse near old Quincy Road. He
was covered with ash; which may have made him appear
unusual to the people who found him. However those people
were probably unfamiliar with normal Native American
customs of mourning.
