The family consists of •
Yuki–Wappo •
Yuki •
Wappo Yuki consisted of three dialects: Yuki, Coast Yuki, and Huchnom. Wappo consisted of four dialects spoken in the
Napa Valley, with a fifth dialect spoken in an enclave on
Clear Lake. Wappo and Yuki are quite divergent grammatically and lexically (Goddard 1996: 83), which has led to contested theories about their relationship. Additionally, the Wappo and Yuki people were quite distinct culturally and even in physical type (Goddard 1996: 83). The Yuki–Wappo languages appear to belong to the very earliest strata of languages in California, even predating
Hokan (Goddard 1996: 84). Yuki is associated with the
Mendocino Complex around
Clear Lake (3000 BCE), while Wappo of the
Napa Valley is associated with the
St. Helena Aspect of the
Augustine Pattern. Proto-Yukian peoples may be of the
Post Pattern (9000 BCE). Some evidence suggests the two languages separated around 2000–1000 BCE. Wappo speakers may have separated from Yuki due to migrations of
Pomoan peoples. Alternatively, the Yuki and Wappo may have entered Northern California as distinct communities that settled in different areas, or Wappo speakers may have migrated south from the Yuki–Wappo heartland in the upper reaches of the Eel River. The Wappo migration to
Alexander Valley in the 19th century was due to a war with the
Southern Pomo. ==Genetic relations==