The Chetco are a tribe of Native Americans who originally lived along the lower Chetco River in Curry County in the U.S. state of Oregon. The name Chetco comes from the word meaning "close to the mouth of the stream" in their own language, which is part of the Athapascan languages.[1]
Language and name
The Chetco language is a member of the Athapascan languages, which also includes most native languages in Alaska, the Apache and Navajo languages in the southwest United States, and the languages spoken by the Rogue River and Tolowa tribes in Oregon. The name Chetco comes from the word Cheti in their own language, meaning "close to the mouth of the stream".[1] The nine villages of the tribe on the Chetco River were named Chettanne, Chettannene (twin villages at the mouth of the river), Khuniliikhwut, Nakwutthume, Nukhwuchutun, Setthatun, Siskhaslitun, Tachukhaslitun, and Thlcharghilitun.[1]
History
The Chetco are believed to have come to coastal Oregon between 3000 and 1000 years ago.[2] They had nine villages on the lower 14 miles (23 km) of the Chetco River, with their principal villages at the mouth, where the river flows into the Pacific Ocean,[1] and their range extended along the Pacific coast from Cape Ferrelo in the north to the Winchuck River in the south.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d Hodge, Frederick Webb, ed. (September, 1912). Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico, Part 1 (Fourth ed.). Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, Bureau of American Ethnology, Government Printing Office. pp. 108–111, 249. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
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(help) - ^ "First residents were the Chetco". Curry Coastal Pilot. February 23, 2001. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
- ^ Schlchting, Bill (December 2, 2009). "Discovering Chetco culture". Curry Coastal Pilot. Retrieved June 27, 2010.