Truckee (chief)

Truckee (died 1860; Wuna Mucca,[1] The Giver of Spiritual Gifts,[1] Old Winnemucca, One Moccasin,[1] Onennamucca,[1]) sometimes known as Captain Truckee, was medicine chief of the Northern Paiute people and an influential prophet.[1]

Truckee
Wuna Mucca, Onennamucca
Drawing of Truckee.
Died1860
Occupationprophet[1]
OrganizationTribe: Kuyuidika band, Northern Paiute people (born a Shoshone)
ChildrenTuboitonie (daughter)
RelativesWinnemucca (son-in-law)

Family life

Old Winnemucca was born a Shoshone and became a Paiute by marrying a Kuyuidika woman. He was the father of Tuboitonie and father-in-law to her husband Winnemucca (Paiute leader). Thus, he was the maternal grandfather of Sarah Winnemucca.[2] The Wuna Mucca clan had no choice by the 1850s but to accept the anglicized spelling of their name, Winnemucca, as journals of the time spelled it.

Relationship with United States settlers

He was friendly with white settlers and guided John C. Frémont, securing a letter of introduction from him commending him for his support during the Mexican–American War.[2] In 1844, he guided the Stevens-Murphy-Townsend party of western emigrants to water. The stream was named Truckee River out of gratitude, and has been known by this name ever since.[3]

Death and legacy

In October 1860 he developed a serious infection in his hand which some sources say was caused by a tarantula bite.[4] Sarah Winemmucca and her father were present at his death.[4][5]

The Native American chieftain lends his name to the community of Truckee, California as well as to the Truckee Range and Truckee River in Nevada.[6]

References
  1. Ontko, Gale. Thunder Over the Ochoco, Volume II: Distant Thunder. Bend, OR: Maverick Publications, Inc., Fourth Printing. 1997.
  2. Sarah Winnemucca of the Northern Paiutes, Gae Whitney Canfield, p.6
  3. Truckee River Chronology Archived 2010-05-27 at the Wayback Machine, State of Nevada Division of Water Resources
  4. Sarah Winnemucca of the Northern Paiutes, Gae Whitney Canfield, p.29
  5. Sarah Winnemucca of the Northern Paiutes, Gae Whitney Canfield, p.30
  6. Federal Writers' Project (1941). Origin of Place Names: Nevada (PDF). W.P.A. p. 13.
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