Madhesi tribe

Madhesi / Madesi

Madesi Man, Istet Woiche (aka William Hulsey) 1923
Regions with significant populations
United States	1,500 - Madhesi Valley (Big Bend), Pit River, California
Languages
English and "Pit River Talk"
Related ethnic groups
Achomawi, Pit River Tribe
San Diego State Univ.

The Madhesi tribe, also known by its endonym Madesi (pronounced as Mah-day-see) are an indigenous Native Americans who once thrived in the Madhesi Valley in northeastern California of the United States. The Madhesi is one of nine autonomous bands (also called "tribelets") of the Pit River Tribe, that traditionally speak various dialects of a common language. The other two bands of the Pit River Tribe speak dialects of a related language, called by anthropologists Atsugewi. The traditional Madhesi band territory is the most down-stream section (AKA the Madhesi Valley) of the river Ahjoo-mah (AKA Pit River) in the Pit River Tribal territory. The Madhesi territory was historically along and the Pit River from the south end of Big Valley Mountains, westerly to Pit River Falls. The other eight tribes that share the Achomawi language also had an historic homeland located along other parts of the Pit River. Their territory extended from Madhesi Valley to Goose Lake. This land was also home to the Atsugewi language group, which consisted of two distinct tribes (now part of the Pit River Tribe) living in the Hat Creek Valley and Dixie Valley, south of the Achomawi language bands.