Truckee

Truckee (died 1860), also known as Captain Truckee, Wuna Mucca, The Giver of Spiritual Gifts, Old Winnemucca, One Moccasin, Onennamucca, One-ah-mucca), or Old Chief Winnemucca, was a medicine chief of the Northern Paiute people and an influential prophet. How he gained the name Truckee is up for debate as different accounts credit different people/groups with giving Winnemucca the nickname. Chief Truckee led his people through a rapidly changing time in California history while also becoming one of the most respected chiefs both by his people and to an extent by the settlers who he often aided. For simplicity he will be referred to as Truckee or Old Winnemucca for the rest of the Article. Family life Old Winnemucca was born a Shoshoni and became a Paiute by marrying a Kuyuidika woman. He was the father of Tuboitonie and father-in-law to her husband Poito, who later inherited his name and became known as Winnemucca the Younger. Tuboitonie and Winnemucca the Younger were the parents of Sarah Winnemucca, making Old Winnemucca her maternal grandfather. In her work Sarah Winnemucca often commented on her grandfather as being an intense but thoughtful man who cared for all people, often taking in orphaned Native Americans and providing them with a new home. Many of Old Winnemucca's other descendants and family would also take on his name including two of his grandsons Natchez and Numaga. Gaining the Name Truckee There are multiple differing accounts of how Chief Truckee gained the nickname he proudly carried the rest of his life, but most are in agreement that it was given to him by a Settler/Exploration Party he helped guide through the Sierra Nevadas. In his dealings with this group Old Winnemucca would use the Paiute word for alright; "Tro-kay", very often leading the group to believe that this was their guides name. In other instances Old Winnemucca is given the name Tru-ki-zo. Although this word does not have any known meaning in Paiute it is often another name seen when referring to the Chief. Relationship with United States settlers He was friendly with white settlers and guided John C. Frémont during his Second expedition early in 1843. After his involvement in the Mexican-American War Truckee secured a letter of introduction from Frémont commending him for his support. In 1844, he guided the Stevens-Murphy-Townsend party of western emigrants to water. The stream was named Truckee River out of gratitude, and has been known by this name ever since.