Lower Falls - California - Signs of History on Waymarking.com

History sign at the overlook for the Lower McCloud River Falls east of McCloud, California. Text of Sign:
The beauty and nourishment of Lower Falls has always drawn people . . .
The Native People of the McCloud River depended upon the river’s bounty for survival. The Winnemem (McCloud River) Wintu Tribe lived, fished, and hunted around Lower Falls.
Norel-putis, a Wintu Elder, speaks of a village site here with ten houses and a chief from the Pit River Tribe. The Village people were Winnemem Wintu, Pit River, and Shasta.
The Winnemem Wintu name for Lower Falls is Nurunwitipom . . . (falls where the salmon turn back).
Many of us love to look at the river and its waterfalls. The river’s sounds seem to ease our cares and worries and lift our spirits. So, whether you come to fish, swim, watch wildlife, hike, picnic, photograph, paint, or just sit and relax . . . let the river work its magic on you!
The river offered water, protection and food for the Winnemem Wintu. They thrived on the rich supply of salmon and other fish. In 1874, a traveler reported . . . “a party of six Indians on McCloud’s Fork, speared over 500 salmon in one night!” The Winnemem Wintu also enjoyed acorns, pine nuts, wild onions, wild plums, chokecherries, mushrooms, elderberries, currants, watercress, and wild tubers.
Present day Winnemem Wintu people are still very connected to the River . . . “It is our life blood that flows from the mountain down to the people below”. . . Mark Franco, Headman, Winnemem Wintu Tribe.
A Wintu poet shares their reverence for the river, “Of all fair rivers I have known, no fairer waters than thine own” . . . Alfred Gillis, 1924. Many descendants of the McCloud Winnemem Wintu live in Redding, California.
In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s people fished for salmon and trout. The McCloud River was known for its unrivaled scenic beauty and abundant supply of fish.

Group that erected the marker: U.S. Forest Service Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary: Off Hwy. 89 about 6 miles east of McCloud, California California United States URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: Not listed

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Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   09/23/2012 Volcanoguy visited it