Who is Wintu Language Circle

Wintu Language Circle is an Indigenous women-led organization on a mission to restore the daily use of Wintu language. Our Wintu ancestral lands and waters surround Bulim Pᑋuyuq (Mount Shasta), near the area now called Redding, California. We speak our Wintu language to honor our history, care for our people, protect the land, and live our culture. Wintu language and people have persisted since time immemorial (hon pom wintu·nu·m). That means before the gold rush, and tens of thousands of years before the thought of the United States of America.

Wintu people are resilient. Since 2022, Wintu Language Circle has met virtually twice per month to act on the longing in our hearts by restoring the use of our nearly lost language. Our efforts are fueled by the vision and dreams of our co-founder, Michelle Radcliff-Garcia, and our linguistics instructor, Anna Björklund. Wintu students join together in class with joy as they heal their relationships to their families, their memories, our culture, the land, and themselves. Our recent ancestors spoke our language fluently. We learn from our relatives who left us with their voices on audio recordings and their written words documented in an ethnography and two separate dictionaries compiled by UC Berkeley linguists, Alice Shepherd and Harvey Pitkin. Several times a year we host cultural gatherings to share our art, travel to sacred places, weave baskets, and deepen our connection to each other and our culture. The spirit of our ancestors, our culture, and our relationships guide our Wintu language revitalization (lelnamis Wintu·n qol).

Wintu people have a unique way of existing in the world. Our mission of restoring the daily use of our language is healing emotional wounds, reigniting a sense of cultural pride, giving guidance for future generations, and honoring our responsibility to carry Wintu language forward.

Keeping Wintu Language Alive

Wintu language has existed since time immemorial. There is no description for the impact of speaking our Wintu language and the empowerment, connection and belonging that it brings. For some it reminds us of our Elders and when they spoke, for others it provides clarity to the unique way we exist in this world.

We gather and use Wintu language in the community, preventing cultural erasure. We partner with local organizations to add Wintu language to trails, streets, signs, and informational materials. 

• We meet for Wintu Language Class on Zoom the first and third Tuesdays of every month. Email WintuLanguageCircle@gmail.com to get connected to class.

• On the second Tuesday of every month we host Wintu Language Cafe to practice language and culture outside of class.

• Several times a year we host cultural gatherings in-person with our language.