The Name, Wi-Ne-Ma

​The name Wi-Ne-Ma was taken from the historical Heroine of the Modoc Indian Wars of the Klamath Country, Oregon. Wi-Ne-Ma was born in a village at the upper end of Link River in 1848 and died in 1920. At birth, she was given the name Nannookdoowah, which meant “strange child” because she was born with red-tinted hair. While she was a girl, her named was changed to Winema, which means “woman chief of the brave heart” because she had rescued some playmates from being caught in river rapids in their canoe. As a young woman, she was said to have ridden with raiding parties of men to gather horses from enemy Indian camps.

When she was a teenager, she was sold by her cousin, the chief of the Modoc, Kintpuash, also known as Captain Jack, to Frank Riddle for the price of 6 ponies. Under Riddles influence she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior. Their marriage was one of the first between a white man and a Native American in the area. Frank and Winema settled near the Lost Rive area. They had a son, which they named Charka “the handsome one”.

​She learned English and Frank Riddle learned her language. She taught the Indian women many of the ways, culture, and religion of her husband. She also went by a white-man’s name -Toby. You may find some references to her as Toby “Winema” Riddle.

Both Frank and Winema Riddle interpreted between the Indian tribes and the government in some very vital negotiations -One being the creation of the Klamath Reservation – Another, when they served as interpreters during the peace commission in 1873, to settle the Modoc War. The Modoc were an Indian tribe of Northern California, whose fertile land was wanted by the white settlers to farm. So, the Modoc were rounded up and made io move onto the Klamath Indian Reservation in S. Oregon. Well, this didn’t sit too well with either tribe – so trouble and skirmishes broke out. The Modoc rebelled and left the reservation. So, the government sent in troops to bring them back -which results in the Modoc war. As the war wound down, the government sent in a peace commission to settle things.

When Mr. Meacham, the Indian Agent, came to the Kamath Country to negotiate a treaty with the Modoc Indians, he needed an interpreter. Wi-Ne-Ma, was the perfect person for such a job. She was an attractive full blood Modoc, cousin of the Chief, Captain Jack, and knew the ways and language of the White Man. She was brought to Meacham. During the negotiations she warned the White Men of the treachery of her cousin, the Chief, who was going to assassinate General Canby and others of the peace commission, in Captain Jack’s famous Lava Bed stronghold. But the commission did not heed her warning. During a brief, but bloody skirmish, General Canby and another were killed and several wounded. Winema saved the life of Meacham. Meacham continued to champion Native American Rights after the War and wrote a “Lecture-Play” and toured the United States. The play starred Frank and Toby (Winema) Riddle and their son.
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Winema was one of the few Native American women to be honored by the US Congress authorizing that a military pension be granted to her, because of her heroism. Several Oregon and Northern California sites bear her name, including the Winema National Forest in Oregon, and our very own Winema Christian Camp. Meacham wrote a book about Winema in 1876. In that book, Meacham wrote, (the name of) “Winema has taken its place beside those of Sara Winnemucca and Sacajawea in the annals of the early west. The personal daring of these Indian Women and the roles they played as negotiators between their people and the palefaces have lifted them above considerations of race into the ranks of the great women of all time.” -Pretty high words for 1876. So Wi-Ne-Ma Christian Camp gets its name from a brave Christian Modoc princess who affected the history of Oregon. 

Camp Leadership

Wi-Ne-Ma Christian Camp has been blessed with dedicated, long-serving and innovative leaders since the beginning in 1944. Bill and Mary Morse Served as the First camp managers, starting in 1946 and serving until 1968.  During their time the camp begun to take shape with summer youth programs, weekend retreats and helped start Week of Missions that continues to this day. From 1968 until 1996, the camp had the amazing and talented Glen and  Elaine Lyda serving  as camp managers. During their time the camp saw new facilities, upgrades to existing buildings and expanded summer programs.  Since 1996 until now, Camp Wi-Ne-Ma has been overseen by Leroy and Jean Shepherd. From facility upgrades,  building local relationships and continuing strong connections with supporting churches, The Shepherds have  taken the ministry to a new level.   In June 2021, the camp board voted-in our newest Executive Director, Ken Smith. We look forward to seeing how God will continue to use  another faithful and dedicated family to manage the camp's future.