Ishi: A Real - Life


ISHI: A Real-Life The Last Of The Mohicans

September 30, 2018

The Last of The Mohicans written by James Cooper was the book that created the hero Native American who was brave, wise, and faithful to his tradition. I remember that many boys were inspired by fictional Chingachgook who was an inheritor of his people’s legacy. His son was killed, his people vanished, and he was the last one to carry on the culture of his tribe. Many years ago, I had just though that life might bring the suffering and sorrow because that is what people have to deal with – sickness, death and loneliness. Reading the story of Yana tribe who lived in Mount Lassen Foothills of northern California unfortunately, brought other thoughts and considerations about the sense of life and our destiny. How the tribe that its people, Yahu, were described as strong, independent, proud, and who fought to survive became the target of destruction and finally vanished. And what is the real story of a real man, Ishi, who was the last of the Yahi.

Ishi At Capture


The history of Yana tribe started about three to four thousand years ago in northern California. The people spoke one language Hokan and cultivated their land with deep respect. They fished, they hunt and raised their children in the culture they were proud of. They had to move at one point when they were attacked by the Wintou. However, for the next thousands of years they were able to adjust to new environment and even peacefully traded their goods with the other tribes.

Some people say that the history likes to repeat itself, and again the Wintou appeared in the story of Yana, but this time through the false statements that were spread among the new settlers. With the Gold Era came the changes that brought the disaster to Yana people.

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References
Ishi: A Real–Life The Last Of The Mohicans Retrieved from  http://www.mohicanpress.com/mo08019.html


Comments

  1. Yakira KellmanSeptember 30, 2018 at 6:26 PM

    Hi Malgorzata,

    The comparison of Ishi to "The Last of the Mohicans" is a very fascinating one. It's especially interesting seeing as the novel was published long before Ishi was even born. One major difference I can't help but notice, though, is that in the novel, there is a great deal of conflict among tribes that helps lead to the downfall of the Mohicans. The Yahi were murdered by white people. I wonder to what extent James Fenimore Cooper was suggesting that it was not white people's fault that native people were facing such existential threats.

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