Atfalati

The Atfalati IPA: [aˈtɸalati], also known as the Tualatin or Wapato Lake Indians were a tribe of the Kalapuya Native Americans who originally inhabited some 24 villages on the Tualatin Plains in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Oregon; the Atfalati also lived the hills around Forest Grove, along Wapato Lake and the north fork of the Yamhill River, and possibly at Portland.

The Atfalati spoke the Tualatin-Yamhill (Northern Kalapuya) language, which was one of the three Kalapuyan languages.

History and culture

Atfalati people ranged around the valley, engaged in a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Primary food stuffs included deer, camas root, fish, berries, elk, and various nuts. To encourage the growth of the camas plant and maintain habitat beneficial to deer and elk, the group burned the valley floor to discourage the growth of forests, a common practice among the Kalapuya.

Before Euro-American contact, the Atfalati were known for wearing adornment such a red feathers on the head. Both men and women had pierced earlobes and noses, hanging long beads and bright dentalia from them. Compared to the peoples to the south, the Atfalati practiced a more severe form of infant head flattening, and compared to the peoples to the east of the Cascade Mountains raised fewer horses. The Atfalati kept slaves, who could sometimes purchase their freedom with horses. The Atfalati lived in rectangular multi-family houses.