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"Modoc War: Its Military History & Topography" »
A free online book providing an overview
of the Modoc War.
Historic
Photos »
A gallery of selected historic photos.
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History & Culture
Modoc baskets on
display at the Visitor Center. |
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The Modoc Way
The Modoc Indians lived on both sides of what is
now the California-Oregon border. They lived a seasonal existence,
traveling to areas within their territory where seasonal plants and
animal migrations provided abundant and accessible food. Taking
advantage of abundant waterfowl, edible plants, and easily accessible
water supply, the Modocs established their permanent camps on and around
Tule, Lower Klamath, and Clear Lakes.
The Modocs began their seasonal roaming as soon as the last winter
storms had ended and wildflowers signaled the coming of spring. Their
camps near the Lost River consisted of groups of temporary domed huts
made of tules. The river is so named because its journey from Clear Lake
ends in Tule Lake, which has no outlet. Here they gathered bird eggs,
roots and berries, and fish from spring spawning runs. With the coming
of summer and the end of the fish runs, the Modocs moved to higher
elevations to establish mountain hunting camps from which they hunted
mule deer. They gathered nuts and berries from pine trees and manzanita
bushes found only at those elevations.
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| Modocs, possibly
photographed while at the Klamath Reservation.. |
The fall was a crucial time for the Modocs--a time for preparing and
caching food for the coming winter. They gathered and dried berries and
the meat of deer and waterfowl, which would later be stored at the
permanent camp. Their earth lodges, as many as twenty in a single
village, were readied for the severe cold of winter storms. Young and
old alike gathered firewood and prepared animal skin blankets to protect
themselves from inclement weather. During the long winter the older
people repaired broken tools and weaved baskets in preparation for
warmer months, while the younger members of the village listened to the
elders recount the knowledge of old: the history of the tribe in legend
and song. They passed the time, looking forward to the spring when their
nomadic traveling would be renewed again.
From past studies we know that the Modocs used almost every living thing
found on the land, either for food, medicine, or implements. One plant
which the Modocs relied on heavily was the water lily or "wocas." During
the summer, after the flowers had bloomed, the Modoc women went out onto
the lakes to collect the plant's seedpods. They later pounded them to
extract the seeds which were then ground with a stone mortar into a meal
or flour. Woven tule boats or dugout canoes were used to traverse the
shallow parts of the lakes where the water lily thrived. The Modocs used
sagebrush, a common yet versatile plant, extensively. They wove its bark
into cordage for basketry, clothing, and footwear. A tea made of its
leaves eased aches and pains.
From thousands of years of experience the Modocs learned to fashion
implements to kill game. They fashioned these tools from natural
materials; the bow from straight limbs of the Western Juniper, the
bowstring from sinew of the muledeer, and shafts to carry the deadly
arrowhead from reeds from the lake. The arrowhead itself was a work of
art, each one unique to its maker. Deer antler tools were used to chip
razor sharp pieces from obsidian chunks collected from one of the
natural glass flows found in the Medicine Lake Highlands.
Modoc braves hunted deer, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, and many
different varieties of waterfowl which inhabited the shores and open
waters of the lakes within their territory. The hunt was an important
part of the Modoc brave's role in the village and preparation for it
took place in the village sweat house, usually a roofed, earthen pit.
The sweathouse was heated by hot rocks carried in from a fire outside.
After several hours in the sweathouse, the men would often dive into a
nearby stream or lake to cool off and rid themselves of odors which
animals might detect during the hunt.
What evidence remains of the Modocs and their ancestors? Their rock art,
both rock paintings (pictographs) and carvings (petroglyphs), is found
on cliffs and in caves throughout Modoc territory. Many village sites,
artifacts, and burial sites have also been found which help researchers
piece together the Modoc way of life.
They were a fiercely independent people. Individual freedom in thought
and action (as opposed to tribal determination of the "norms" of
behavior) was a dominant feature of their society. The Modocs, which had
no concept of land ownership, could not understand the white man's
sudden claim to tribal grounds which they and their ancestors had roamed
freely for thousands of years. The lack of understanding between these
two different cultures led to one of the most tragic of Indian
conflicts: the Modoc War of 1872-73.
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