The Atsugewi or Hat Creek Native Americans

The Atsugewi historically occupied a mountainous region of northeast California. Their culture, arts, and religion strongly reflected their dependence on the local environment. Two distinct indigenous groups made up the Atsugewi Native Americans: in the west, the Atsuge (or Pine Tree People) who lived in the densely wooded area north of Mount Lassen; and to the east, the Apwaruge (or Juniper Tree People) who lived in the more arid plains in and around Dixie Valley northeast of Mount Lassen. In the nineteenth century the Atsugewi were commonly referred to as Pit River Indians, a grouping that included the larger indigenous group of the Achumawi tribe. It has been estimated that there were 900 Atsugewi in the early nineteenth century. Today the descendants of the Atsugewi live in areas surrounding their traditional homelands, maintaining their culture.

Name: Atsugewi or Hat Creek Indians. Subgroups include the Atsuge (Pine Tee People) and the Apwaruge (Juniper Tree People).

Location: Northern California

Population: 900 in the early 1800s; 1,753 today, which includes members of the larger Achumawi Native American tribe.

Language Family: Hokan

First Contact by Euroamericans: 1827

Current Tribal Status: The tribe received federal recognition as the Pit River Indians, together with the Achumawi.

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