Patwin Content

Remembering Patwin Elder, Edward ‘Bill’ Wright

Dave Jones — October 05, 2021 - 12:16pm

On September 26, 2021, Patwin Elder Edward “Bill” Wright passed away at his home at Cortina Rancheria, surrounded by family and friends. Born in Knights Landing in 1937, he was 84 years old.

New Episode of ‘The Backdrop’ Podcast Features Lewis Lawyer on Documenting One of California’s Indigenous Languages

Soterios J Johnson — August 03, 2021 - 9:00am

In what is now California, close to 100 Indigenous languages were spoken before Europeans arrived. According to UNESCO, most of the languages native to the Americas are critically endangered — many others are entirely extinct.

Linguist Lewis Lawyer, a 69�� alumnus, has compiled the first-ever published description of one of those languages, Patwin — originally spoken in hundreds of communities in Northern California.

Sing and Dance — Remember the Patwin

Dave Jones — October 01, 2019 - 11:32am

First came the Native American Contemplative Garden along the Arboretum Waterway. Now, not far away, comes a granite plaque inscribed with Patwin history as it relates to the land now occupied by the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts.

The marker, unveiled last Thursday (Sept. 26) in front of the performing arts center, is titled, “Voices, Drums, Whistles. Sing, Dance, Remember.”