Frequently Asked Questions

"Sumeg village" was built by Yurok people using modern tools but with traditional materials in the traditional style of a permanent village. The primary building material is split redwood planks, which is what the Yurok people have used for centuries.
"Sumeg" is the placename of a former Yurok seasonal fishing camp, not a permanent village. Sumeg was located in the park, but down by the ocean. The nearest permanent village was Tsurai (roughly pronounced Cher ray or Cher eye) near the present town of Trinidad.

It is one place of connections linking the past to the present and future. The modern Yurok live in modern houses in a modern world. Still, many Yurok enjoy the brush dances and other cultural traditions of their heritage. "Sumeg village" is one of the places where these traditions are still enjoyed.

The two redwood dug-out canoes were built by Yurok people using modern tools, but in traditional style. Before they had modern tools, dug-out canoes were built with equal skill, but much more laboriously using sharpened stone tools and fire. Consequently, each canoe had great value and could be used only by persons who could be trusted to excercise ability, care, and judgement.
The Yurok built canoes of several sizes. The ones at "Sumeg village" are small, approximately the size that would have been used on the Klamath river. The Yurok also built some much larger, ocean-going canoes. There is a replica of a larger canoe at the Redwood Information Center in Orick, 15 miles north of Patrick's Point State Park.