Ishi: The Last of His Tribe Essay

Ishi: The Last of His Tribe

Ishi's story is a fascinating and controversial one. To some he embodies the tragic effects of Euro-American culture on the lives and cultures of Native Americans. Others question the motives of the scientists who befriended him. But there can be no question that the information he left us is invaluable. Ishi was a Yahi Indian, the last of his tribe, who once populated north-central California. The Yahi were members of the Yana nation. The gold rush of 1849 flooded California with Europeans. There was no place in 'white' California for the natives and they were killed or driven from their homelands. Ishi and a handful of his relatives spent their life hiding in the foothills of Mount Lassen. Over the years these people were killed or passed away, until Ishi was the only one remaining.
The beginning of the book takes place when Ishi is a young man growing up. We see how he becomes a hunter, or “wanasi.” The story is told from Ishi’s point of view, so we get a lot on insight as to what he is thinking about during his exploits. We also learn



	Spirit's in the Yahi Culture .... the name of Theodora Kroeber discovered the last living member .... to write a book about him and .... extinct tribe. .... Ishi realized that if he spoke with the spirits .... (619 2 )

	Lord of the Rings .... was defeated centuries ago by a Last Alliance of .... been told in the Hobbit, lost .... Ring to .... gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatuluk, agh burzum ishi krimpatul", which .... (1714 7 )

	Archery forefathers .... Arthur Young learned .... skills from an old Indian named Ishi. People say that this Indian was the very last primitive Indian, who came out of hiding in 1911. .... (1397 6 )

	Archery forefathers .... Arthur Young learned .... skills from an old Indian named Ishi. People say that this Indian was the very last primitive Indian, who came out of hiding in 1911. .... (1397 6 )

	Archery forefathers .... Arthur Young learned .... skills from an old Indian named Ishi. People say that this Indian was the very last primitive Indian, who came out of hiding in 1911. .... (1397 6 )

Alone and driven by hunger, in 1911 Ishi approached the Northern California town of Oroville. Here he was 'discovered' by the white men at a slaughterhouse. Attitudes had changed since the gold rush of the late 1800's so his life was spared. However, nobody really knew what to do with him, so they took him to the town jail to stay. He was not actually imprisoned, but was kept there safe from the throngs of onlookers who came to see the “savage wild man”. There he was fed and given clothes. They were in a style obviously foreign to Ishi, but sensing the townspeople's good intentions he ate their food and wore their clothes. All except their shoes which he kindly refused in favor of going barefoot.

Unfortunately Ishi died on March 25, 1916, from tuberculosis, a disease that had never been contracted by an Indian, but was spread by the whites. This man we call Ishi, helped others learn by teaching what his people and his culture was like. His teachings resulted in the printing of books and much more. Ishi left behind a legacy of