Superstitions & Taboos
The Northern Miwok people were very superstitious people. Superstitions and taboos were the heart and soul of the culture.
Every aspect of Northern Miwok culture had some component of superstitions and taboos. Unfortunately, I've witnessed this aspect of the
Northern Miwok culture die out in my lifetime. Some aspects of superstitions still exist today, but not to the same extent that it had existed in the 1970s and 1980s.
My grandparent's generation, people born prior to the 1930s, really were the last generation where superstitions were part of everyday life.
The families that lived in native communities were the last one's to retain the superstitions and taboos. Families who assimilated
and lived amongst non-Indian people did not retain these superstitions and taboos to the same extent they survived in the native community setting.
A revival of sorts has taken place with the sharing of knowledge that transpired in the 1970s and later through venues and organizations like the
Amador Tribal Council and Chaw Se Indian Grinding Rock State Park. For ther most part however, the true belief in these things has died out. What I mean by "true belief" is
when you talked to people like my grandpa you could see it in their eyes and hear it in their voice, that they really believed in it. Even though they never personally saw Chihilumche or Yawlu
they believed it existed whole heartedly. To them it was as real as a mountain lion not something from a story like a unicorn.
The belief and fear of superstitions and taboos controlled the entire way Northern Miwok people lived their lives. Fear of getting sick from not following the rules
or fear of someone else getting sick from you not following the rules governed every aspect of life. From gathering materials for making things such as baskets and tools to
getting doctored before eating newly ripened foods, every aspect of Miwok culture was impacted by superstitions and taboos.
The following are some taboos and superstitions:
FINGERNAILS
& HAIR The old people near Ione would hide their hair and fingernails when
they cut them. When Lucy Villa died, she had a closet full of
garbage bags stuffed with her hair and fingernails. It is
believed that a person with medicinal powers could use your hair and
fingernails to make you sick. Therefore, you had to keep all the
hair you lose and your fingernails to prevent people from being able to
poison you. Today, scientists have discovered that a person’s DNA
is found in both the hair and fingernails. Miwok believed this
for centuries. TALK OF THE
DEAD The old people would rarely talk about the dead. If they had
to speak of the dead, they wouldn’t mention them by name. The
dead people were referred to by their relationship such as Glen’s
grandfather. This tradition lasted until the death of the
grandchildren of Sally John. Frank Villa spoke with me and
wouldn’t say dead people’s names. Frank said it was disrespectful
to the dead and their families. Also, one who spoke the dead
people’s name would get sick. People’s names were their identity
and belonged to them. However, if you wanted to honor somebody
you could name your child after them, then it was alright to talk about
that dead person. DREAMING OF
DEAD PEOPLE The Miwok from Ione believe that you dream of dead people for two
reasons. Either they are telling you someone is real sick or they
want you to visit their grave. OWLS Owls are believed to be bad luck. However, not all owls are
bad. Depending on the sounds owls are making, they may be
informing you of a weather change or informing you of a serious illness
and possibly death. The owls informing you of death have been
described as saying "uttuttui miwok sui." William Walloupe Jr. told a story about how he talked to an
owl. He was walking from Ione to Jackson Valley and was walking
past the Jackson Valley Cemetery, when he heard someone call out to him
in Miwok. He began talking back and forth in Miwok to the
voice. Then, he realized he was talking to an owl and got
scared. He took off running.