Williamson: Maklaks Place Names

This is our homeland. We have been here since time immemorial, and we do not plan to go anywhere anytime soon. Reclaim our homes, reclaim our places, reawaken our spirits, and revitalize our Maklaks peoples and places. Here is a draft list of some of our place names for this region from Spindor 1996 (Linked in Hoqambli Resource Directory).

Say these names again, go to these places again, revitalize the relationship between our Maklaks peoples and places again. And protect our places and the spirits that still dwell in them.

Ya-aga Koke: Williamson River, Williamson River.

Awalokaksaksi: Williamson River, Camping place meaning "little island-there".

E-ushtat: Lower Williamson River

Yalialant: Williamson River, Camping place meaning "at the crystal water".

Kakagosi: Outflow of Klamath Marsh to Williamson River, A camping place meaning "at the ford", blackish waters (current day bubbling springs?).

Kalpshi: Silver Lake

Ktai-iti: Rock in Williamson River, A rock standing in the bed of the river about 3/4 of a mile below Sprague River junction. According to a myth, Gmunkumps was turned into this rock after he selected this spot as a fishing place, "at the rock".

Kuyam=Ska=iksh: Willamson River, A lodge site on river, "the crabs water trail". Frank and Allen David both live at that place, close to the steep western bank of the Williamson River, with communal Maklaks dance-house, solid earth lodge, lies further to the NE.

Kulsh=Tge-ush, Kulsam=Tge-ush: Willamson River, Camp meaning "where the badger stands in water"

Kultam=Wash: Willamson River, A lodge site on river, "otter-den".

Witlas: 5 mile below the forks, A roof shaped natural rock or rock dam on the southern bank of the Williamson River, place believed to be given to the Lake Tribe by Gmunkumps.

Witamamtchi: Williamson River, A camping place "where the old black bear was".

Vushxeni: Williamson River below the Sprague River Junction, Named after little suckers.

Tchpinuksakshi: Near Williamson River, "at the burial ground", cemetery, ancient cremation ground.

Tchikesi: Williamson River, Camping place meaning "at the submerged spot".

Tseloxins: Chiloquin, a Klamath man who was living close to Ktai=Tupakshi, near confluence of Williamson and Sprague Rivers.

Tsanotanksh: The Forks, Junction of Sprague and Williamson, about 3 miles above the mouth of the Williamson.

Kak=Taliksh: on Williamson River, A camping place on Williamson River. Literally "two phali standing aside of each other, touching each other", in texts referred to as "twin rocky pillars".

Kokaksi: on Williamson River, A camping place on a tributary of Williamson River; referred to as "at the brooklet".

Mbushaksham=Wash: on Williamson River, A locality on the Williamson River; identical with Mbushaksh=Shawalsh. In text intrepreted as "where the obsidian is found".

Mbushaksh=Shawalsh: A locality at the junction of the Williamson and Sprague River, near to where the house of Tseloxins was located. About 200 yeards above this junction a small stream detaches itself from the Williamson River and Sprague River further below, so as to leave a rocky island of teh shape of an arrowhead. In the texts Mbusaks=Sawals is rendered as "to the obsidian place".

Nkash: Mountain Trout, A spotted fish found in Williamson River, but not in Upper Klamath Lake.

P'nanksi: Cremation Site, Klamath cremation grounds.

Samka-ushxeni: Williamson River, A camping place on the Williamson River right below the Klamath Marsh; the rocks protecting above the river afforded good opportunities for catching fish. In texts it is give "cliffs in the river".

Slankoshksuksi: Williamson River, A locality on the Williamson River. "Where the old bridge was".

Stilakgish: Williamson River, "Dipnet fishery"; a camping place on the Williamson River, the texts it is given "place to watch fish".

Shuyuxalkshi: Williamson River, Camps and dancing places on the Williamson River and other places. The first paragraph of "The Spell of the Laughng Raven" reads in substance- When at dance place (shuyuxalkshi) the Klamath Lake people there pilpil-danced, many people were there. Kmukamtch went there. Old Raven there laughed at them when they danced, and all people dancng there became rocks (131), this myth intends to explain the existence of the large number of rocks found here. Pilpil means first menstruation.

Tanua=Lutilsh: Williamson River, A camping ground on Williamson River. "Under the flat rock", in the texts it is given as "flat rocks under the water".

Tukua, Tokua: Mouth of Williamson River, A camping place and landing place on the Upper Klamath Lake at the mouth of Williamson River. From this neighboring part of the lake sometimes called Tukua Lake. This place was named by Kmukamtch.

Tulish: Mouth of Williamson River, A locality on Upper Klamath Lake near the mouth of the Williamson River, wihich was abundant with fish, and in texts is given as "Spawning place". Kmukamtch created Tulish for the Lake people, to be their fish-killing place; "to enable the Indians to catche fish at that place, Kmukamtch built for them, as tradition has it, an obstruction resembling a beaver dam".