Chemehuevi
The Chemehuevi (/ˌtʃɛmɪˈweɪvi/ CHEH-mih-WAY-vee) are an indigenous people of the Great Basin. They are the southernmost branch of Southern Paiute.[3][4][5] Today, Chemehuevi people are enrolled in the following federally recognized tribes:
Some Chemehuevi are also part of the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, whose members are mostly Sovovatum or Soboba band members of Cahuilla and Luiseño people.
Name[edit]
"Chemehuevi" has multiple interpretations. It is considered to either be a Mojave term meaning "those who play with fish;"[8] or a Quechan word meaning "nose-in-the-air-like-a-roadrunner."[9] The Chemehuevi call themselves Nüwüvi ("The People", singular Nüwü)[10][11] or Tantáwats, meaning "Southern Men."[9]
Language[edit]
Their language, Chemehuevi, is a Colorado River Numic language, in the Numic language branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family. First transcribed by John P. Harrington and Carobeth Laird in the early 20th century, it was studied in the 1970s by linguist Margaret L. Press.[12] whose field notes and extensive sound recordings remain available.[13] The language is now near extinction;[14] during the filming of Ironbound Films' 2008 American documentary film The Linguists, linguists Greg Anderson and K. David Harrison interviewed and recorded one of the last 3 remaining speakers.
In 2015, the Siwavaats Junior College in Havasu Lake, California, was established to teach children the language. A Chemehuevi dictionary with 2,500 words was expected to become available in 2016.[15]