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Duluwat Island (Indian Island) (Eureka, California)

USA / California / Eureka / Eureka, California
 place with historical importance, massacre, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, Native American, U.S. National Historic Landmark
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Duluwat Island, or Indian Island, is located on Humboldt Bay within the City of Eureka, California. The village of Tolowot or Tuluwat on Duluwat Island was the site of the spiritual if not political center of the Wiyot people and is where the main thrust of the 1860 Wiyot Massacre by European settlers took place.

The massacre followed two years of open aggression by a group of local whites against the residents of Indian Island, numerous editorials in the local newspapers, and the formation of volunteer militia groups. On the night of 26 February 1860, a small group of white men crossed Humboldt Bay and to avoid drawing attention from nearby Eureka residents, some of whom may not have condoned the killings, carried out the attack primarily with hatchets, clubs and knives. Contrary to a commonly held view, guns were also used to kill Indians, because some Eureka residents reported hearing shots that night, but knowledge of the attack was not widespread at the time. Based upon Wiyot Tribe estimates, 80 to 250 Wiyot men, women, and children were murdered. Because most of the adult able-bodied men were away gathering supplies as part of continuing preparation for the World Renewal Ceremony, nearly all the Wiyot men murdered are believed to have been older men, which is one reason why the Wiyot were largely defenseless.

Every year since 1992, the Wiyot people and supporters come to the island on the last Saturday in February to heal the community, and remember the human lives lost at the time of the Massacre. Every year participation has increased at the vigil on a nearby island.

It has also been called Gunther Island, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and (even more importantly) as a National Historic Landmark which encompasses the midden at Gunther Island Site 67.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   40°48'53"N   124°9'52"W

Comments

  • Wiyote (guest)
    If you are only going to mark part of the island you may as well call it by its real name Tolowat village on Duluwat Island Center of the Wiyote world historic place
This article was last modified 7 years ago