A formal portrait of Chief Winnemucca – Lassen Historical Society

He was born, Poito, around 1820, at the sink of the Humbolt River, but the year is, of course, unsure. The Shoshone People had no need for the numerical dates placed upon the passing of time.

Most historians say that Poito was the son of Chief Truckee. This is most probably true, but some dispute this, and we will never know the truth.

Poito married Tuboitonie, the daughter of Paiute chief, Old Winnemucca. As part of the marriage ceremony, he was given the name, Winnemucca, by his new father-in-law. The name Winnemucca has been given several meanings, but it’s true interpretation is unclear. It reportedly means, ‘bad face’, ‘one moccasin’, or ‘giver of spiritual gifts.’

Poito, or Young Winnemucca was born a Shoshone, but became a member of the Kuyuidika band of the Northern Paiute upon his marriage. This followed tribal customs which had existed for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

Poito, (now Winnemucca) spent a childhood secure in the knowledge that life was orderly and changed very little. It had been nearly the same since ‘time began’. As he grew older, he heard stories of strange people appearing from unknown far-away places, but they were just stories, perhaps meant to teach one of life’s lessons.

Then, Winnemucca’s father, Truckee, actually met these strangers.

Truckee was a powerful and important man ‘in his own right’. He was said to have had a vision many years before the emigrants had ever arrived in the area. In his vision he had seen these strange people with their horses and wagons. As the emigrants finally appeared, Truckee welcomed them with open arms, and helped them find their way through the mountains.

Old Chief Truckee was amazed and trustful of the settlers coming into the area, but Winnemucca was more restrained and cautious. He was a major proponent of the 1860 Pyramid Lake War. The war was instigated against the encroaching emigrants who were lured to the area seeking gold and silver, and it spread into Honey Lake Valley and caused great concerns among the settlers there.

The Native People were eventually defeated, and Winnemucca lost not only his wife and some of his children to this war, but also much of his power with his people.

Winnemucca foretold of the coming time when the Native People would no longer be free to use their land. Still, in most cases, he worked to negotiate and prevent hostilities. He undoubtedly saw the futility of protesting such a massive emigration, that never seemed to stop. Attempting to work with people could be a more advantageous path.

This was a time of intolerance by people on both sides of the issue, but Winnemucca seemed to understand that the only method to a future for his people was through peace.

Chief Winnemucca in a photo postcard

In 1880 Winnemucca traveled to Washington, D.C. to speak to government officials, in an attempt to understand their ways, and also to negotiate for his people.

He was accompanied by his son, Nachez, Captain Jim, and his daughter Sarah, who interpreted for the Paiutes. The group of Northern Paiute met with Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz and President Rutherford B. Hayes to discuss their grievances. This voyage through an unknown world must have influenced Winnemucca’s decisions for the rest of his life.

Even with his distrust of the mass of settlers moving through his land, Winnemucca developed a good working relationship with many of them. His friendship with Isaac Roop was well known, with Roop defending and protecting him from local assaults.

Winnemucca and Roop visited many times, and Winnemucca journeyed to Susanville and stayed in Roop’s home on several occasions. Susan Roop, Isaac’s daughter, was known to offer Winnemucca her gracious hospitality.

Winnemucca worked with the U.S. Army to negotiate with various Paiute bands and was given an army uniform for his assistance. Many tribal members were disgusted and discouraged to see Winnemucca in his new uniform and felt that their chief had betrayed the Paiutes. Still, proud to have been honored by the U.S. Army, he continued working to appease them all.

Winnemucca’s daughter, Sarah, was fluent in English, as were many in her family. She lectured and told of her experiences in ‘Life Among the Piutes’, written in 1883. She, of course, promoted her father to a high position in his tribe, calling him the chief of all the Northern Paiutes. This may be true, but modern historians only note that he was a man of considerable influence among his people.

In October of 1882, Winnemucca died, probably of poisoning, at Coppersmith Station, Nevada. His young wife was accused of ‘bewitching’ him. As was the custom of Winnemucca’s people, she was thrown into a pit with their three-year-old child, and the two were stoned to death.

Winnemucca’s descendants are said to still live in the area where he resided, and the town of Winnemucca, Nevada, along with many other sites, is named for him. His son, Natchez, and his nephew, Numaga were called Little Winnemucca and Young Winnemucca.

Winnemucca’s place in history is indisputably a large one. He lived at a time when his people faced huge challenges, and his decisions seem to have helped many of them understand and deal with the changes in their world.

Winnemucca’s name alone recalls the time when a culture and a people, thousands of years in the making, were removed from their lands.

The National CASA Association for Children supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy for children and youth who have experienced abuse or neglect. Every child should be given the opportunity to thrive in a safe and loving home.

You can pre-register at eventbrite.com after September 1st. The 5K starts at 9:00a.m. The first twenty-five people to register get a free goodie bag!

Jasso sustained multiple stab wounds and was taken to an outside medical facility while life-saving measures were performed. He was pronounced deceased at 11:58p.m. No staff or additional incarcerated people were injured.

Both suspects have been moved to restricted housing pending investigation into this case. Officials have limited population movement on the yard to facilitate the investigation being conducted by HDSP Investigative Services Unit, the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office and the Lassen County Coroner.

Jasso, 33, was received from Monterey County on June 27, 2011, to serve life with the possibility of parole for attempted first-degree murder, assault with a semiautomatic firearm and discharge of a firearm in an inhabited dwelling, vehicle or aircraft. He received enhancements for street gang activity in commission of a serious felony.

Diaz, 32, was received from Monterey County on April 14, 2014, to serve life with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury. He also received enhancements for use of a firearm and street gang activity street gang activity in commission of a serious felony.

Nava, 29, was received from San Mateo County on October 16, 2017, to serve 23 years for attempted second-degree murder and discharge of a firearm in an inhabited dwelling, vehicle or aircraft. He also received enhancements for use of a firearm and street gang activity in commission of a serious felony.

The additional efforts to prevent impaired driving are part of a national enforcement campaign, Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 13,384 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2021 — that’s one person every 39 minutes.

While drunk driving is a significant traffic safety problem, driving while impaired is not just from alcohol. Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and cannabis products may also impair. If you plan on drinking or taking medications with a driving warning label, let someone who is sober drive. If you see someone driving impaired, call 9-1-1.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Doyle California around 1915 from the California State Library

Survey Completed On Susanville Road

August 31, 1919

Division Engineer Bradford of the California highway commission has just completed the preliminary survey of the proposed state road from Susanville, Lassen County; to the Nevada state line, which, under a recent agreement, is to be built jointly by the state and Lassen County.

The report discloses that the funds available for this section of road, some $360,000, are inadequate, and that if the whole road is built it must be in an inferior manner. The other alternative is to expand the bulk of the funds upon a portion of the road, constructing a standard paved highway as far as the money will permit.

The commission has detailed Engineer Bedford to go at once to Susanville and explain the matter to the board of supervisors of Lassen County to ascertain the wishes of the members of the board and of the people of the county.

Should the supervisors of Lassen County give their approval, the highway commission will proceed at once to grade and pave with concrete a section of road at least twenty miles in length. Under this plan, the improvement would start at the town of Susanville and proceed in the direction of the Nevada state line.

The highway commission is unable to state when or from what funds the road would be eventually completed.