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Native American languages preservation Native culture Native Indian words
Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Luiseno Indian tribe for school or home-schooling reports. We encourage students and teachers to visit ourLuiseno Indian homepage for more in-depth information about the tribe, but here are our answers to the questions we are most often asked by children, with Luiseno pictures and links we believe are suitable for all ages.

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Luiseno Tribe

Luiseno, also spelled Luiseo, is pronounced loo-ee-sane-yoh. This was the Spanish name for the tribe. The Spanish had the habit of naming the so-called "Mission Indians" of southern California after the nearest Catholic mission, in this case, San Lus Rey. Their own name for themselves was Payomkawichum, which means "Western people," but most modern tribal members prefer Luiseno today.

The Luiseno are aSouthern California tribe, located on the West Coast around what is now Oceanside. Most Luiseno people still live in this area today.

Like many California Indians, the Luisenos were placed in reservations together with other Mission Indians from different tribes. Areservation is land that belongs to an Indian tribe and is under their control. However, since most Luiseno people share reservations with people from other tribes, they have to share that control as well. Each Mission Indian reservation has its own government, laws, police, and services, just like a small country.

In the past, each Luiseno village had its own chief, who usually inherited the position from his family. The chief was supported by a tribal council of local clan leaders, who worked together with him to make important decisions. Today, Luiseno tribes are led by council members elected by all the people on the reservation (both Luiseno and non-Luiseno.)

Luiseno people all speak English today, but there are some people, especially elders, who also speak their nativeLuiseno language. If you'd like to know an easy Luiseno word,myu (pronounced similar to "mee-yoo") is a friendly greeting.

Here's a link to the homepage of thePechanga Band of Luiseo Indians. On their site you can find information about the Luiseno people in the past and today.

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They do the same things all children do--play with each other, go to school and help around the house. Many Luiseno children like to go hunting and fishing with their fathers. In the past, Indian kids had more chores and less time to play in their daily lives, just like colonial children. But they did havedolls, toys, and games to play. Luiseno kids enjoyed footraces and dice games. A Luiseno mother traditionally carried a young child in acradleboard on her back. Here is a website with pictures and information aboutcradleboards.

Luiseno men were hunters and warriors, responsible for feeding and defending their families. Luiseno women did most of the child care and cooking, and gathered herbs and food from the wilderness. Only Luiseno men became chiefs, but both genders took part in storytelling, arts and crafts, music, and traditional medicine.

Most Luiseno people lived inearthen houses, which are made of an undergound room covered by a wooden frame packed with clay and brush. The thick earth walls kept this kind of house cool in the heat and warm in the cold, making it good shelter in the desert.

Luiseno people do not live in these old-fashioned dwellings today, any more than other Americans live in log cabins. Luiseno families live in modern houses and apartment buildings, just like you.

Originally, Luiseno people didn't wear much clothing-- men wore onlyAmerican Indian loincloths, and women wore knee-length skirts. Shirts were not necessary in Luiseno culture, but the Luisenos sometimes wore rabbit-skin robes at night when the weather became cooler. Unlike most Native American tribes, the Luisenos rarely wore moccasins. They either went barefoot or wore sandals. Here are some photos and links abouttraditional Indian dress in general.

Luiseno men did not originally wearIndian feather headdresses like the Sioux. Luiseno women wore basket hats, and men went bare-headed. Traditionally, Luiseno men and women both wore their hair long. The Luisenos worenative tattoos that showed their clan affiliations, and they also painted their faces for special occasions. They used different patterns for war paint, religious ceremonies, and festive decoration.

Today, Luiseno people wear modern clothes like jeans instead of breechcloths... and they only wear traditional regalia on special occasions like a wedding or a dance.

Yes, the Luisenos built canoes for fishing and traveling along the sea coast. They used two different kinds of canoes:tule boats, which were made of bundled reeds and were very light, anddugout canoes, which were made of hollowed-out logs and were much heavier. The dugout canoes were better for going out to sea, while the reed canoes were better close to shore. Here is a website showingNative American boat types. Over land, the Luisenos usually just walked. Once Europeans introduced horses to North America, the Luisenos could travel quicker and further.

What was Luiseno food like in the days before supermarkets?
The Luisenos were hunter-gatherers, and moved from place to place frequently as they gathered food for their families. Luiseno men hunted deer, rabbits, and small game, and went fishing in the rivers and ocean. Luiseno women gathered acorns, nuts, beans, and fruits. They baked bread from specially prepared acorn flour, or sometimes from corn they got in trade. Here is a website with more information aboutNative American foods.

Luiseno hunters used bows and arrows or throwing sticks, and sometimes built wooden traps. Fishermen used nets and harpoons. Luiseno warriors fired their arrows or used war clubs. Here is a website withpictures of Native American Indian weapons.

What other Native Americans did the Luiseno tribe interact with?

The Luisenos traded frequently with neighboring tribes, such as theCahuilla,What kinds of stories do the Luisenos tell?
There are lots of traditional Luiseno legends and fairy tales. Storytelling is very important to the Luiseno Indian culture. Here is one story about aKumeyaay, and andGabrielino tribes. The Southwest Indian trade routes ran from Southern California all the way east to Santa Fe, so the Luisenos were able to trade for many items that were not available in their own environment.

What about Luiseno religion?
Religions are too complicated and culturally sensitive to describe appropriately in only a few simple sentences, and we strongly want to avoid misleading anybody. You can visit this site to learn more about Indian baskets andclay pottery. Here is a museum website showing photographs ofLuiseno and other Mission Indian baskets from the Morongo Reservation.Can you recommend a good book for me to read?
We don't know of any good children's books about the Luisenos. Older kids might be interested in

man-eating monster. Here's a website where you can read more aboutLuiseno mythology.How do I cite your website in my bibliography?
You will need to ask your teacher for the format he or she wants you to use. The authors' names are Laura Redish and Orrin Lewis and the title of our site is Native Languages of the Americas. We are a nonprofit educational organization working to preserve and protect Native American languages and culture. You can learn more about our organization

Luiseno beliefs or this site aboutIndian beliefs in general.

Pablo Tac, an interesting account of colonial California by a 19th-century Luiseno writer.Life of the California Coast Nations is a good kids' book about coastal California tribes in general, including information about the Luisenos and Juanenos. You can also browse through our reading list of recommendedbooks about Native Americans.

here. Our website was first created in 1998 and last updated in 2015.

Thanks for your interest in the Luiseno Indian people and their language!

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Luiseno Indian Tribe
An overview of the Luiseno people, their language and history.

Luiseno Language Resources
Luiseno language samples, articles, and indexed links.

Luiseno Culture and History Directory
Related links about the Luiseno tribe past and present.

Luiseno Words
Luiseno Indian vocabulary lists.

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Facts for Kids: Luiseno Indians (Luiseo, Luisenos)

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Native American languages preservation Native culture Native Indian words Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Luiseno Indian tribe for school or home-schooling reports.

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How are the Areas of California Different

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What are bioregions?

Writer Peter Berg and ecologist Raymond Dasmann, both affiliated with the San Francisco environmental organization Planet Drum Foundation, popularized the term "bioregion" in the 1970s.

Every place on the Earth's surface lies within a bioregion. One way to define the term is to say that a bioregion is a watershed area- the drainage basin of a stream or river. But this is not the only possible definition of "bioregion."

More generally, a bioregion is a place that has commonalities of soil, surface water source, landforms, wildlife, climate and culture. The bioregionalism movement, which is still active today, calls for defining areas based not on ecologically meaningless political boundaries but instead on natural geographic boundaries and characteristics. The border between California and Oregon, for example, is a straight line that cuts straight across watersheds. A bioregional boundary would meander, tracing the dividing line between watersheds.

To live bioregionally is to live aware of the local ecology, steeped in the natural and indigenous history of the place and committed to making choices that help to balance human impacts with the carrying capacity of the environs.

Our map identifies the bioregions of California in one of many possible ways. How would you delineate California's bioregions?

California's bioregions

Click on a bioregion below to find out about the forests, wildlife, climate and landforms found there, along with information about the threats facing each area.

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Writer Peter Berg and ecologist Raymond Dasmann, both affiliated with the San Francisco environmental organization Planet Drum Foundation, popularized the term "bioregion" in the 1970s. Every place on the Earth's surface lies within a bioregion. One way to define the term is to say that a bioregion is a watershed area- the drainage basin of a stream or river.

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There was a time, at night, when you were in the tomols [plank canoes], it would be like a necklace of fires-where you would see all the villages up and down the whole coast. -- Mati Waiya

By 500 B.C., a seafaring civilization, known to us as the Chumash, prospered on the coast of the Santa Barbara Channel. Their villages stretched from present day Malibu to Pasos Robles, and were located on the Santa Barbara Channel coast, in the interior mountains and on the Channel Island. At one time the nation probably boasted around 150 villages and up to 30,000 members. The villages, which ranged in size from 100 to 1000 people, had many similarities and differences. But from birth to death, a reverence and connection with the natural world -- particularly the sea -- tied the many distinct tribes of the Chumash together.

The Chumash believed that their connection to the ocean and ocean life was not only spiritual, but familial. This fact is evident in their creation story, recounted here by Mati Waiya, founder and Executive Director of the Wishtoyo Foundation and a Chumash ceremonial leader:

The ancestors got here on a rainbow bridge [Wishtoyo]. They were promised an abundance of land and food for a future generation as they crossed over that bridge. And they were warned not to look down because they would get dizzy and fall looking at the sparkling water below. But some of them could not resist and they looked down and they fell. And as they were falling, the earth goddess said to our creator, "Save our people, don't let them die. They're good people. Save them." So right when they hit the ocean their bodies started to sink down and their bodies started changing -- their arms came together, their legs came together, these fins came out and they went up for their first breath of air -- and they had changed into blue dolphins. So they are our brothers, our sisters, our relatives.

These brothers and sisters shared a special bond with their human counterparts. It is said that when the men went out onto the sea on fishing and trading expeditions, they would be accompanied by hundreds of their dolphin brethren. "When our women would give birth on the shorelines," recounts Mr. Waiya, "the dolphins would come and surround and protect them." The Chumash also paid reverence to the swordfish, both in songs and dances, believing him to be the "king of the sea." Land animals were honored, too. The Chumash believed many animals embodied the souls of the "first people," ancestors who had nearly been wiped out in a long-ago flood.

The Chumash made great use of the abundant natural resources at their disposal. Their diet was rich in acorn meal, fish and shellfish, elderberry, bulbs, roots, and mustard greens. Their domed homes, called aps, were made with willow poles and tule rush. Abalone shell was a prized possession and used to make everything from decorative inlay to jewelry and fishing hooks. Pelican bones were made into flutes, and seal pelts into skirts and capes. Musical shakers were made out of kelp bulbs. Willow bark was used as a medication, much like aspirin. Shamans used natural pigments, including those found in brightly colored shells, to create inscrutable paintings in isolated caves, many of which baffle visitors to this day. Asphaltum, a gooey tar that washed up on the shore or on nearby stream beds, was used to waterproof and seal baskets, aps and canoes. The many uses of the soaproot bulb, recorded in "The Chumash," by Robert O. Gibson, almost boggles the modern mind:

If soaproot was pounded fresh and sprinkled into still water, it would paralyze the gills of fish. The fish would then float to the surface, and the Chumash could easily collect them. If it was allowed to dry slightly, soaproot formed a resinous material that was used to coat tool handles and brushes in order to make them last longer. The freshly grounded pulp could also be used as a soap for washing hair, skin, and clothing. Most remarkably, if the fresh bulb was placed in a rock-lined oven and baked for half a day, it became a tasty and nutritious food.

The canoes that enabled the Chumash to fish and develop an advanced trading culture were called tomols. Tomols were often richly decorated with abalone shells and meaningful patterns that were burned into the wood. So important were the canoes to the Chumash that many fishermen carried miniature steatite charms in the shape of carved canoes with them for good luck on fishing trips. According to Mr. Waiya, the construction of a single canoe took many months, and required a great deal of skill:

We used redwood plank canoes made from redwood trees. Trees would wash up when the seasons were normal, and they were split up with stones into planks. We would sew them together and seal them with asphaltum [a gooey tar] and pine pitch -- it was a 3 to 1 ratio, how we would mix it -- and we would seal the joints.

Even the currency of the Chumash came from the sea. Money was made out of specially carved white olivella shells, which were made into beads that were strung to make necklaces. The more beads you had -- the richer you were. The Chumash had a highly stratified and sophisticated economy, which so impressed Spanish explorers that they compared it to the Chinese economic system. There were trade routes over the sea and land -- many of which are today our modern highways. The Chumash were also :modern" in the sense that they had distinct upper, middle, and lower classes. The Antap cult, which performed religious rites and dances, was made up almost exclusively from the upper classes. People identified by their trade were mostly in the middle class -- hunters, basket makers, tool makers, chefs. So important was your trade that when you died, tokens symbolizing your job were often hung on a tall ceremonial pole atop your grave.

Chumash wore very little clothing. Women wore skirts made of pelts or woven plant material. The men and children often wore nothing, covering themselves with animal skins when it was cold. Both sexes boasted piercings, tattoos, jewelry, and hair adornments made of shells and stones. In their leisure time they played a game reminiscent of soccer, gambled, and held foot races from one village to the next. The most important time of year for the Chumash was the winter solstice, culminating in the "Day of the New Sun" in December. People would travel by canoe or foot from all over the Chumash nation to a host village. Days of prayer, religious ceremonies, political discussions, and games followed. Songs were sung to the willow, the protective eagle, and of course -- the dolphin.

When a Chumash died, it was believed that the soul travelled back across the sea. In 1916, a Ynezo Chumash named Maria Solares recounted what happened in the days after a Chumash death:

Three days after a person has been buried the soul comes up out of the grave in the evening. Between the third and fifth day it wanders about the world visiting the places it used to frequent in life. On the fifth day after death the soul returns to the grave to oversee the destruction of its property before leaving for Similaqsa [the land of the dead across the sea]. The soul goes first to Point Conception, which is a wild and stormy place. It was called Humqaq, and there was no village there. In ancient times no one ever went near Humqaq...There is a place at Humqaq below the cliff that can only be reached by rope and there is a pool of water there like a basin, into which fresh water continually drips. And there in the stone can be seen the footprints of women and children. There the spirit of the dead bathes and paints itself. Then it sees a light to the westward and goes toward it through the air, and thus reaches the land of Similaqsa.

On Oct. 10, 1542, the sea brought the beginning of the larger death of the Chumash people of the Santa Barbara Channel. When explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo's Spanish expedition sailed into the channel, a group of Chumash men raced out in finely crafted canoes to meet them. They entertained the strangers in one of their prosperous villages (probably in Ventura County). An impressed Cabrillo named the village "Las Conoas," because the community owned so many maritime vessels. The expedition soon left, across the sea and into history.

The Chumash continued their seafaring way of life for over 200 years with little interaction with European outsiders, blissfully unaware that Cabrillo had claimed their land for Spain. The Spanish returned in the 1780s. Over the next few decades they killed the Chumash in many ways -- stealing their land, subjugating them to the brutal mission system, destroying their natural way of life, and spreading infectious diseases. The Chumash were equally mistreated by subsequent Mexican and American governments. By 1900, there were only 200 Chumash left.

Today, there are around 5,000 Chumash in California. They mostly reside in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Louis Obispo Counties. A small group of Chumash struggle to keep their people's ways alive. They also teach fellow Californians about the importance of our ecosystem, particularly the coastal areas. Organizations like the Wishtoyo Foundation, who operate a recreated Chumash Discovery Village in Malibu, continue to try and make a difference in a largely indifferent world.

"We're thinking about the water we use, the land we use, fisheries, history, and about how we have to start telling the truth -- especially about our country, which was born of violence," Mr. Wayai explains. "How do we go from here as a human family?"
Special thanks to the Wishtoyo Foundation

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A Maritime People: The Chumash Tribes of Santa Barbara Channel

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There was a time, at night, when you were in the tomols [plank canoes], it would be like a necklace of fires-where you would see all the villages up and down the whole coast. -- Mati Waiya By 500 B.C., a seafaring civilization, known to us as the Chumash, prospered on the coast of the Santa Barbara Channel.

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California Native Indians by Louis Choris 1822

This article contains interesting facts, pictures and information about the life of the Serrano Native American Indian Tribe of the California cultural group.

The Serrano Tribe
Summary and Definition: The Serrano tribe were a southern California inland tribe of Native American Indians who were hunter-gatherers and traders. The original territory of the Serrano tribe 2,400 square miles from the San Bernadino Mountains south to the Mojave River region and down to the Tejon Creek. The Serrano people lived in well organized villages of kiich houses, until the arrival of the Spanish who forcibly removed them to missions.

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Facts about the Serrano Native Indian Tribe
This article contains fast, fun facts and interesting information about the Serrano Native American Indian tribe. Find answers to questions like where did the Serrano tribe live, what clothes did they wear and what food did they eat? Discover what happened to the Serrano tribe with facts about their wars and history.

What was the lifestyle and culture of the Serrano tribe?
In 1775 Fray Fancisco Garces made first European contact with the tribe. Fray Francisco Garces described the people as living near Tejon Creek, under their Mohave name of Cuahajai or Cuabajay (aka Cahuilla), as "approachable, quiet, inoffensive, and having good hearts". The Serrano called themselves Yuhaviatam, which means "people of the pines". The people were divided into three groups, or bands.

The Kitanemuk band lived in the Kern and San Joaquin river basins

The Vanyume band, resided along the Mojave River

The main Serrano, were located in the San Bernardino Mountains, adjacent valleys, and a small part of the Mojave Desert

The Spanish established the Mission System in Southern California to convert Native Indian tribes to Christianity and enslave them and the tribe were brought under the San Gabriel and San Fernando Missions and referred to as the 'Serrano'. The name 'Serrano' is Spanish for "highlander," or "mountaineer" that reflected the geography of their homelands. The Mexicans took control of Alta and Baja California forcing the Native people to work on their farms. The Americans followed, moving west along the California Trail and were joined by the Gold Rush settlers. The Serrano people were decimated by the diseases brought by the invaders and subjected to atrocities. Following the short-lived Garra Revolt (1851) those who survived were forced on to various reservations.

What language did the Serrano tribe speak?
The Serrano language is of the Serran branch of Uto-Aztecan family spoken in Southern California. The Serrano language is now nearly extinct.

Where did the Serrano tribe live?
The Serrano are people of the California Native American cultural group. The location of their tribal homelands are shown on the map and covered the mountainous region of what is now southern California. The geography of the region in which they lived dictated the lifestyle and culture of the Serrano tribe.

Land: Mountains, deserts, valleys, rivers and streams

Climate: Mild temperate climate

Natural Resources: Oak trees, acorns, buckeye nuts, mushrooms, pinon nuts, manzanita berries, cacti fruits, bulbs, roots, grasses, yucca plant

Types of housing or shelters: Types of housing or shelters: Kiich

Land animals: The animals included deer, elk, chipmunks, rabbits, squirrels, quail, mountain sheep and bear

Insects: Crickets, grasshoppers and dried locusts were all eaten to supplement the diet

Serrano Kiich Shelter

What did the Serrano tribe live in?
The Serrano tribe lived in a type of shelter called a Kiich. A Kiich was made using willow poles and long sticks to create a frames that were covered in brush and yucca fiber. A typical dome-shaped kiich measured about 12 - 14 feet in width and length and was often dug about 2 feet into the ground. The insulation from the ground helped to combat extreme temperatures that were hot during the day but cold at night. The floors of the kiich houses were covered with woven mats made of yucca. There was a smoke hole in the roof for the night time fires which also let in air and light during the day. Cooking was done outside the kiich. The people also built ramadas, thatched roofs supported by poles, that provided shade. Small Serrano villages of kiich houses were constructed near lakes, rivers and streams located in the valleys, and mountains of the San Bernardino highlands.

What food did the Serrano tribe eat?
The food that the Serrano tribe ate varied according to the natural resources of their location. Their food included staple diet of acorns which they ground into acorn meal called Wiic to make soup and bread. Nuts were a valuable food source and were stored in granaries built of willow poles and covered with tule reeds. The Serrano hunted deer (venison), elk, fowl, mountain sheep and goats, and small game such as rabbits and quail. The Serrano hunter-gathers collected other foods including a variety of nuts, mushrooms, greens, roots, bulbs, and berries. Food was also preserved by drying in the sun and stored to be eaten in the winter.

What weapons did the Serrano use?
The weapons used by the Serrano tribe included spears, knives, bows and arrows, slings and clubs.

What clothes did the Serrano men wear?
The clothes worn by the Serrano men varied according to the seasons and the weather. During the summer months the men wore an apron or kilt made from tule reeds, mesquite bark or the yucca or they simply went naked. In the winter months warm clothing was required that made from the hides of animals such as deer (buckskin), squirrel and rabbit. The Serrano winter garments included fur robes and blankets. They wore tough sandals made of buckskin and yucca fibers and went barefoot in the warmer weather. The ceremonial crown-style headdresses of the Serrano consisted of a circular head roll that was made of bound tule and covered with fur and topped by feather plumes.

What clothes did the Serrano women wear?
The women of the Serrano tribe wore aprons or skirts that covered the front and back made of shredded willow bark. Special clothes were strung with ornaments, tassels, shells and quills. Twined tule sandals covered their feet and in the winter they wore rabbit fur robes for warmth.

Serrano History Timeline: What happened to the Serrano tribe?
The following Serrano history timeline details facts, dates and famous landmarks of the people. The Serrano timeline explains what happened to the people of their tribe.
Serrano History Timeline

1542: Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo explores California, and claims the land for Spain

1775: Fray Fancisco Garces and Junipero Serra made first European contact with the tribe under their Mohave name of Cuahajai or Cuabajay (aka Cahuilla)

1770's: Spanish settle on the territory of the Serrano and the Spanish mission system is established in Southern California

1771: The Spanish founded Mission San Gabriel Arcangel

1790's: The Spanish began raiding Serrano villages for converts forcing them to work as slaves in Spanish missions.

1796 - 1823: The Serrano are forcibly moved to the San Gabriel and San Fernando Missions

1800's: The Spanish invaders devastate the Serrano culture

1819: The San Bernardino de Sena Estancia (also known as the San Bernardino Rancho) was established as an outpost of Mission San Gabriel Arcangel in Redlands where many of the Serrano people were made into Mission Indians

1821: Mexico wins its independence from Spain and takes control of Alta and Baja California

1824: The Chumash Revolt of 1824 involved conflicts between the Chumash and a small number of Serrano at the Santa Ines, La Purisima, and Santa Barbara

1824: Surviving rebels are indentured to Mexicans

1833: Cholera and Malaria epidemics kill many Serrano people

1838: Smallpox epidemic (1838-1839) spreads amongst the Serrano

1838: The Alta California missions are closed as religious and farming communes

1841: The California Trail opens

1846: South Emigrant Road aka the Applegate Trail opens

1848: California is passed to the US with the Treaty of Guadalupe

1848: January 24, 1848: Gold is discovered at Sutter's timber Mill starting the California Gold rush

1848: The white settlers and gold prospectors bring more diseases to the Native Indians who lived in the surrounding areas of the westward trails

1851: The Garra Revolt (November, 1851 - January, 1852), led by Antonio Garra, chief of the Cupeno, was joined by the Cahuilla (Serrano) and Yuma tribes. The Garra revolt failed and Antonio Garra, was executed before a firing squad

1852: Treaty of Temecula signed on January 5, 1852 by Commissioner O.M. Wozencraft. The treaty of Peace and Friendship was never ratified and the Serrano people were neglected, and denied basic land rights

1860: Prospector Bill Holcomb discovered gold in Holcomb Valley, near Bear Valley

1867: Serrano people were the victims of a massacre conducted by white settlers of the San Bernardino Valley during a 32-day campaign at Chimney Rock

Serrano leader Santos Manuel led the survivors from the mountains to the valley, where they established permanent residence near the hot springs of modern-day Highland

1885: There were 390 Serrano living under the Mission agencies

1891: The United States established a reservation for the Serrano which took the name San Manuel in honor of Chief Santos Manuel.

Serrano History Timeline
Serrano

Interesting Facts and information about the way the Serrano people lived

The clothes worn by men and women

Description of the Serrano kiich homes and the type of food the Serrano would eat

Fast Facts and info about the Serrano

Interesting Homework resource for kids on the history of the Serrano Native American Indians

Pictures and Videos of Native American Indians and their Tribes
The Serrano Tribe was one of the most famous tribes of Native American Indians. Discover the vast selection of pictures on the subject of the tribes of Famous Native Americans such as the Serrano nation. The pictures show the clothing, war paint, weapons and decorations of various Native Indian tribes, such as the Serrano tribe, that can be used as a really useful educational resource for kids and children of all ages. We hope you enjoy watching the video - just click and play - a great social studies homework resource for kids .

Serrano - Kids - Cool, Fun Facts - Serrano Clothes - Clothing - Serrano men and women clothing - Headdresses - Homes - Shelters- Lives - Weapons - Legends - Serrano Food - Location - Serrano History - Serrano History Timeline - Kids - Info - Information - Famous - Kids - Children - Serrano Timeline - Teaching resource - Social Studies - Lifestyle - Serrano Culture - Teachers - Serrano Facts - Serrano Timeline - Kids - Interesting Facts - Info - Serrano Information - Pictures - Reference - Guide - Studies - Homework - Serrano Facts

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California Native Indians by Louis Choris 1822 This article contains interesting facts, pictures and information about the life of the Serrano Native American Indian Tribe of the California cultural group. The Serrano Tribe Summary and Definition: The Serrano tribe were a southern California inland tribe of Native American Indians who were hunter-gatherers and traders.

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Native American Indian Tribes

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Facts about the Washoe Native Indian Tribe
This article contains fast, fun facts and interesting information about the Washoe Native American Indian tribe. Find answers to questions like where did the Washoe tribe live, what clothes did they wear, what did they eat and who were the names of their most famous leaders? Discover what happened to the Washoe tribe with facts about their wars and history.

What was the lifestyle and culture of the Washoe tribe?
The Washoe tribe were originally seed gathers and hunters from the Great Basin cultural group of Native Indians. The Washoe tribe lived on the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in small family groups in small camps of grass houses or temporary wikiups. They spent most of their time gathering food and were dependent on fishing at Lake Tahoe and the nearby streams. The Washoe tribe never hunted animals for "sport" and the hunters always prayed to the Maker and asked for forgiveness for taking a life. Plants were never gathered unless they were going to be used and the tribe always thanked the Maker for their food. The tribe used canoes to travel across the waters. The Great Basin social and cultural patterns of the Washoe tribe were those of the non-horse bands. The Washoe tribe were skilled basket makers and wove the baskets so closely that they could contain the smallest of seeds and hold water. Neighboring Native Indian tribes of the Washoe were the Ute, Koso, Paiute, Panamint, Pueblo, Walapi and the Shoshone tribes. They were long-time enemies of the Northern Paiute who drove them from their tribal lands in Nevada to California. The white settlers that were clamouring to get to the California Gold fields or the Comstock Lode silver passed through Washoe lands. Some traders and settlers decided to stay, cut down trees and ruined the Pine Nut forests and trampled across the grasses that had once provided the Washoe with their means to survive.

What were the rituals and ceremonies of the Washoe tribe?
The rituals and ceremonies of the Washoe tribe and many other Great Basin Native Indians included the Bear Dance and the Sun Dance which first emerged in the Great Basin, as did the Paiute Ghost Dance. The Healers of the Washoe tribe used sacred items, such as eagle feathers and cocoon rattles, to assist in rituals and ceremonies. Another important ceremony of the Washoe tribe was the Round Dance and the Pine Nut dance which ere associated with the harvest pinyon (pine nut) and was performed in supplication for increased food supply and bringing rain.

Washoe myths and legends tell of mythical creatures with special powers such as those they called "Water Babies" that they believed inhabited all bodies of water. "Water Babies" sometimes caused illness or death, but could also be an omen of good fortune. Another Washoe mythical creature was a giant man-eating bird they called "Ong" that nested in the middle of Lake Tahoe.

What language did the Washoe tribe speak?
The Washoe tribe spoke in their own unique language, which was markedly different from that of the Uto-Aztecan language that was used by other tribes that inhabited their region. Their name of their tribe derives from the Washoe word, waashiw (wa·šiw), meaning "people from here."

The Washoe are people of the Great Basin Native American cultural group. The location of their tribal homelands are shown on the map. The geography of the region in which they lived dictated the lifestyle and culture of the Washoe tribe.

The Washoe tribe originally lived in the American Great Basin region but with the advent of the horse many migrated to the Great Plains

Tribal Territories of the Washoe: Mainly Nevada and California

Land: Deserts, salt flats and brackish lakes

Climate: Very hot summers and cold winters with very low levels of rainfall

Animals: The animals included deer, sheep, antelope, rabbits, hares, lizards and snakes. Fish was also available from Lake Tahoe

Natural resources: pine nuts, seeds, berries, nuts, roots, leaves, stalks and bulbs. Indian rice grass was harvested

Harvesting Wild Rice

What food did the Washoe tribe eat?
The food that the Washoe tribe ate included Indian rice grass, also known as sandgrass, Indian millet, sandrice and silkygrass. Rice grass occurs naturally on coarse, sandy soils in the arid lands throughout the Great Basin. Other common names are sandgrass, sandrice, Indian millet, and silkygrass.

The seeds of rice grass were a staple food of Native American Indians, including the Washoe tribe, who lived in the Great Basin area.

What did the Washoe tribe live in?
The Great Basin Washoe tribe lived in temporary shelters of windbreaks in the summer or flimsy huts covered with rushes or bunches of grass called Brush Shelters. The materials used were sagebrush, willow, branches, leaves, and grass (brush) that were available in their region.

The more permanent winter homes of the Washoe were called Galais dungal (winter houses) known as Wickiups. These grass houses consisted of cone-shaped huts that were built using a frame of willow boughs and covered with reeds, branches and grass. The Washoe house was rounded at the base and at the top of the dome was an open smoke hole. Rocks were piled around the base of the grass house for added insulation. Occasionally the domed-shaped grass houses were built over a 2 - 3 foot foundation. Bark and sometimes earth was added to the Washoe wickiup covering to keep out the cold.

Washoe History Timeline

1000: Woodland Period including the Adena and Hopewell cultures established along rivers in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States

1844: Surveyor John Charles Fremont in 1844 visited the Washoe tribe

1846: The Washoe tribe sighted the famous Donner party wagon train that was heading for California

1848: Gold was discovered in California

1851: Trading posts were established on Washoe lands

1857: Comstock Lode major silver discovery in Nevada (then Utah)

1860: By 1860 the Pine nut forests had been ruined and seed grasses trampled

1887: Dawes General Allotment Act passed by Congress leads to the break up of the large Indian Reservations and the sale of Indian lands to white settlers

1893: Land allotments were made to the Washoe

1917: Two tracts of land were purchased for the Washoe near Carson City that totaled 156.33 acres. This became known as Carson Indian Community

1936: Federally recognized as the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California

Interesting Facts and information about the way the people lived

The clothes worn by men and women

Description of the homes and the type of food the Washoe tribe would eat

Fast Facts and info about the Washoes

Names of famous chiefs and leaders

Interesting Homework resource for kids on the history of the Washoe Native American Indians

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Native American Indian Tribes Site Index Facts about the Washoe Native Indian Tribe This article contains fast, fun facts and interesting information about the Washoe Native American Indian tribe. Find answers to questions like where did the Washoe tribe live, what clothes did they wear, what did they eat and who were the names of their most famous leaders?

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On a brisk January morning, bundled up and fitted with snowshoes, a group of Washoe Tribe youth trekked on the outskirts of Hope Valley, following in the footsteps of their ancestors.

Every winter for thousands of years, members of the Washoe Tribe would trek in their distinctively round snowshoes for several days through Hope Valley and across the Sierra Nevada to the American River along a trail called Pewećeli Yeweš (peh-weh-tseh-lee yeh-wesh). They went to collect salmon from the American River to smoke for preservation and bring back to the rest of the tribe.

"Snowshoeing is something that was a traditional activity for us during the wintertime and really a big part of our ability to survive and cross the Sierras and trade," explained Herman Fillmore, culture/language resources director for the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California.

"Today what we try to do a lot of is get our youth out on the land identifying different places and place names using the language, learning about the philosophy and the lay of the land, how Washiw people used to interact with this place, and see it from a Washiw perspective, our perspective."

Summers for the Washoe were spent at Da'aw (Lake Tahoe) - the center of the tribe's world, both spiritually and geographically - while the rest of the year was spent moving around the basin and surrounding valleys to collect or hunt food like pine nuts, acorns, rabbits and other game. The California gold rush and the subsequent Nevada silver rush, however, would eventually change this way of life for the Washoe people forever.

The snowshoe outing was part of a winter break program put on by the tribe's culture department to engage youth in activities rooted in the Washoe's history. Prior to heading out, the students learned about and crafted their own snowshoes as their ancestors would have.

"When we do things like this, it just touches my heart because I know that we are still doing the things that our ancestors intended us to do - the things that helped us survive for all those thousands of years," said Lisa Enos, an after-school language teacher, while snowshoeing with her three children and nephew. "I get emotional, but it feels good. It gives me a sense of empowerment."

The tribe's language immersion school, Washiw Wagayay Mangal - the first of its kind in the nation - closed in 2002 due to a lack of funding, making it even more important to find other ways to pass on tradition and language to the younger generations, tribe members say. The school was located in the Washoe Tribe's Dresslerville Colony in Gardnerville.

"I think getting back out to the land starts to prevent suicide, starts to overcome a lot of the health issues that plague even our children," said Elizabeth Elliot, administrative assistant for the cultural department.

"The programs and the work that the tribe as a whole does is keeping it going but we need more. We lose more kids to the criminal justice system, and we need to have more prevention."

While many of the children choose to partake in the activities, some are mandated through the juvenile probation program.

Paula Smith, juvenile probation officer for the Washoe Tribe, said the outdoor programming put on by her department in collaboration with other parts of the tribe has made a huge difference in the lives of the youth she works with. And early intervention is key.

"We are one of the only tribes in the state that has it. We are also an exemplary program for other tribes throughout the nation to learn from what we do, the activities we do and the collaboration for activities among recreation, education, truancy and probation departments," said Smith.

"When I started four years ago I had 24 kids now I have three because we're doing stuff like this and learning about culture, tradition, and staying busy with positive activities."

The snowshoe trek through Hope Valley was guided by another partner - this one outside of the tribe - that also sees the importance of empowering the original inhabitants of the region: Hope Valley Outdoors.

John Dayberry, co-owner of the rental and guiding company, has aspirations to train Washoe youth to work as guides so they can share the history and native place names for the peaks and valleys of the region with visitors from around the world.

"What I want to do here is build a model for Indian tourism across the country so the framework that we have starts out with maps and reclaiming place names. So we talk to elders, we examine history books and archaeological records," explained Dayberry, who operates the outdoor outfitter from a yurt by Picketts Junction.

"We bring people together like this and try to find these old place names that have been neglected and forgotten and replaced with other names like Red Lake Peak and Steven's Peak and Red Lake and Carson Pass.

"We need to let the Washoe people tell their story through their language."

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Washoe youth follow ancestors' footsteps in Hope Valley (video)

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On a brisk January morning, bundled up and fitted with snowshoes, a group of Washoe Tribe youth trekked on the outskirts of Hope Valley, following in the footsteps of their ancestors.

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The Washoe Story of Creation | Vegas PBS Documentaries

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The coyote and the lizard are important characters in the Washoe story of Creation.

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ValleyPBS Specials
Special | 7m 9s

The Native Americans of the Central Valley are called Yokuts. ValleyPBS explores their history in this video featuring members of the Chukchansi and Chowchilla tribes. The video also features the Madera County Library and Coarsegold Historical Museum. Funding provided by Anne Ray Foundation, A Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropy.

Aired: 12/03/18

Rating: NR

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Native America: Central Valley Native History | ValleyPBS Specials

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ValleyPBS Specials Special | 7m 9s The Native Americans of the Central Valley are called Yokuts. ValleyPBS explores their history in this video featuring members of the Chukchansi and Chowchilla tribes. The video also features the Madera County Library and Coarsegold Historical Museum. Funding provided by Anne Ray Foundation, A Margaret A.

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Location: Central California (Stanislaus, Merced, Fresno, Madera, Kings, Tulare, Kern Counties, southern San Joaquin County)

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Yokuts Meeting Place - Orestimba - San Joaquin Valley - California

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A Staple in the Traditional Chumash Pantry

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Student created video about the Chumash Nat

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Student created video about the Cahuilla Nati

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Location: Central California coast (Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito Counties)

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Location: Southern California coast (Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties)

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Pomo Tribe: Facts, Clothes, Food and History ***

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Check out this site for interesting facts about the Pomo tribe of California. Food, clothing, homes, weapons and culture of the Pomo. Interesting facts about the Pomo nation.

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Native American language Native American people Native American arts
Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Pomo tribe for school or home-schooling reports. We encourage students and teachers to visit our mainPomo website for in-depth information about the tribe, but here are our answers to the questions we are most often asked by children, with Pomo pictures and links we believe are suitable for all ages.

What kinds of stories do the Pomos tell?
There are lots of traditional Pomo legends and fairy tales. Storytelling is very important to the Pomo Indian culture. Here is a story aboutSponsored Links

What about Pomo religion?
Spirituality and religion were important parts of Pomo life, and some people continue to practice traditional beliefs today. It is respectful to avoid imitating religious rituals for school projects since some Pomo people care about them deeply. You can read and learn about them, however. You can visit this site to learn more about

Pomo Tribe

Pomo is pronounced just the way it looks, "poh-moh." This probably came from a place name meaning "red earth," although it also sounds similar to the word for "dweller" in their language.

The Pomos are original people of NorthernCalifornia. Most Pomo people still live there today.

In the past, each Pomo band had its own chief. There was no centralized Pomo government, only a loose coalition among village chiefs. Today, the Pomos live on more than twenty differentrancherias, which are like tribal villages or small reservations under partial control of a tribe. Just as in the old days, each rancheria has its own government independent from the others. Not all Pomo people live on the rancherias, however. Some live in intertribal communities with members of other tribes, and others live in neighboring Northern California towns.

The Pomos speak English today. In the past, they spoke their nativePomo language. Some Pomo elders still remember words from this language, and there are younger people who are interested in learning to speak their traditional language again. If you'd like to learn an easy Pomo word, Chamay (pronounced chah-my) is a friendly greeting. Here is aPomo picture glossary you can look at.

Here's a link to theDry Creek Pomo Tribe's homepage. On their site you can find information about the Pomo people in the past and today.

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They do the same things any children do--play with each other, go to school and help around the house. Many Pomo children like to go hunting and fishing with their fathers. In the past, Indian kids had more chores and less time to play, just like colonial children. But they did have toys and games. One Pomo game was thehand game. Players held marked sticks behind their backs and gambled as they guessed the location of each stick. Another Pomo game istossle or shinny, which is an athletic sport similar to lacrosse and rugby. Traditionally, only men and boys played tossle or the stick game. Pomo girls often played withdolls. Like many California Indians, Pomo mothers traditionally carried their babies inbaby baskets. Here is a website of baby basket pictures.

The Pomos lived in reed houses. These houses were made from a cone-shaped frame of wooden poles, sometimes placed over a basement-like hole dug into the ground. Then the frame would be covered with long rushes or with mats woven from tule reeds. Because they were partially underground, Pomo houses often appeared smaller than they really were. Here are some pictures of different types ofIndian homes. Today, most Pomos live in modern houses and apartments, just like you.

Pomo people didn't wear much clothing. Pomo men generally went naked, and Pomo women wore only grass and deerskin skirts. In colder weather, men would wearleggings and women would wear shawls made of plant fiber. The Pomos woredeerskin moccasins on their feet while they were hunting or traveling, but usually went barefoot in their own villages. Here is a website with some aboutNative American clothing pictures.

The Pomos didn't wear long headdresses like the Sioux. For dances and ceremonies, Pomo men would wear special headbands made of flicker feathers, likethis. The Pomos painted their faces for dances and other special occasions, but not for everyday life. Women also woretribal tattoos on their faces. Both genders wore beaded necklaces, and Pomo men wore shell jewelry in their pierced noses as well.

Today, some Pomo people still wear moccasins or beaded jewelry, but they wear modern clothes like jeans instead of grass skirts.

No, the Pomo people did not often travel by boat, and when they did, they normally used rafts. A few Pomo bands did make an impressive type ofreed boat from tule rushes. Today, of course, Pomo people also use cars... and non-native people also use canoes.

What was Pomo food like in the days before supermarkets?
The Pomos werehunter-gatherers. Pomo men hunted deer and small game, and depending on the band, sometimes caught fish. Pomo women gathered acorns and ground them into meal, as well as collecting berries, nuts, and other plants. Here is a website with more information aboutNative American foods.

Pomo hunters used bows and arrows. Pomo fishermen used spears, nets, and wooden fish traps. Pomo warriors usually fired arrows at their enemies, although sometimes they would duel each other hand-to-hand with war clubs. Here are pictures and information about theNative American bow and arrow and other traditional weapons.

Pomo artists are known for their finebaskets. Here is a picture of some beautifulbaskets by the Pomos and their neighbors.

What other Native Americans did the Pomo tribe interact with?

The most important Pomo allies, trading partners, and occasional enemies were other Pomo bands. Since there were many of them and they all had independent leadership, they interacted with one another often. The Pomos also traded frequently with the other tribes of California, even as far north as Oregon, and sometimes fought wars over territory with the Wintu and other neighbors.
Can you recommend a good book for me to read?
If you want to know more about Pomo culture and history, two interesting sources are
a girl who became a rattlesnake. Here's a website where you can read more aboutPomo legends.

Pomo religious traditions or this site aboutNative American traditions in general.How do I cite your website in my bibliography?
You will need to ask your teacher for the format he or she wants you to use. The authors' names are Laura Redish and Orrin Lewis and the title of our site is Native Languages of the Americas. We are a nonprofit educational organization working to preserve and protect Native American languages and culture. You can learn more about our organization

Pomo Indians of California and Their Neighbors andThe Pomo Indians. Two good books for kids on California Indians in general areCalifornia Native Peoples andNative Ways ; a more in-depth book for older readers isTribes of California. You can also browse through our recommendations ofAmerican Indian history books in general. Disclaimer: we are an Amazon affiliate and our website earns a commission if you buy a book through one of these links. Most of them can also be found in a public library, though!

here. Our website was first created in 1998 and last updated in 2020.

Thanks for your interest in the Pomo Indian people and their language!

Sponsored Links

Pomo Indian Tribe
An overview of the Pomo tribe, their language and history.

Pomo Language Resources
Pomo Indian language samples, articles, and indexed links.

Pomo Culture and History Directory
Related links about the Pomo Native Americans past and present.

Pomo Words
Pomo Indian vocabulary lists.

Return to the Native Americans Facts homepage
Return to our Native American tribe menu

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Would you like to help support our organization's work with endangered American Indian languages?

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Information about the Pomo Indians for students and teachers. Covers Pomo houses, food, weapons, tools, canoes, and customs.

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Indigenous language American Indian people American Indian art
Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Maidu tribe for school or home-schooling reports. We encourage students and teachers to visit our mainMaidu website for in-depth information about the tribe, but here are our answers to the questions we are most often asked by children, with Maidu pictures and links we believe are suitable for all ages.

Sponsored Links What kinds of stories do the Maidus tell?
There are lots of traditional Maidu legends and fairy tales. Storytelling is very important to the Maidu Indian culture. Here is a story about

What about Maidu religion?
Spirituality and religion were important parts of Maidu life, and some people continue to practice traditional beliefs today. It is respectful to avoid imitating religious rituals for school projects since some Maidu people care about them deeply. You can read and learn about them, however. You can visit this site to learn more about

Maidu Tribe

Maidu is pronounced "my-doo." That comes from the word for "people" in their own language. "Maidu" was originally just the name of one particular community, but in modern times, it has come to refer to the whole tribe.

The Maidus areCalifornia Indians, located in Northern California. Most Maidu people still live there today.

Most Maidu people live onrancherias, which are parcels of land in the state of California that are similar to reservations. There are two Maidu rancherias, each with its own tribal leadership. Not all Maidu people today live on the Pit River rancherias, however. Some live in intertribal communities with members of other tribes, such as the Round Valley Reservation and the Susanville Indian Rancheria. Others live in Northern California towns.

In the past, each Maidu band was led by a chief or headman who was appointed by the medicine man. Today, each Maidu rancheria is governed by a tribal council elected by its residents.

The Maidu speak English today. In the past, they spoke their nativeMaidu language. Some Maidu elders still remember words from this language, and there are younger people who are interested in learning to speak their traditional language again. If you'd like to know an easy Maidu word,he'i, pronounced heh-ee, is a friendly greeting. here is aMaidu picture glossary you can look at.

Here's a link to theKonkow Maidu Cultural Preservation Association. On their site you can find information about the Maidu people in the past and today.

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They do the same things any children do--play with each other, go to school and help around the house. Many Maidu children like to go hunting and fishing with their fathers. In the past, Indian kids had more chores and less time to play, just like colonial children. But they did have toys and games. The hoop game, where players tried to throw long darts through a moving hoop, was a popular one with kids. Teens and adults played gambling games-- dice games for women and girls, and a game where players held marked sticks behind their backs and guessed their location for men and boys. Maidu girls also played withdolls. Like many California Indians, Maidu mothers traditionally carried their babis inbaby baskets. Here is a website withbaby basket pictures.

The Maidus lived in earthen houses. Usually these houses were made from a cone-shaped frame of wooden poles placed over a basement-like hole dug into the ground. Then the frame would be covered with bark and packed with a mound of earth to keep it well insulated. Because they were partially underground, Maidu houses appeared smaller than they really were. Here are some pictures of differenttypes of Native American houses. Today, most Maidu live in modern houses and apartments, just like you.

Maidu people didn't wear much clothing. Maidu men usually went naked, and Maidu women wore grass skirts. In cold weather, Maidu people would sometimes wear rabbit-fur robes. The Maidus usually went barefoot, but when they were hunting or traveling, they woredeerskin moccasins on their feet. Here are some photos and links about theNative American fashion in general.

The Maidus didn't wear long headdresses like theSioux tribes. For dances and religious rituals, Maidu men wore headbands made of flicker feathers and elaborate feathered caps, likethis, but they did not wear these headdresses in ordinary life. Maidu women worebeaded headbands. The Maidus only painted their faces for dances and ceremonies, but they did weartattoo patterns. Women tattooed lines on their chins, while men tattooed their arms and chests. Maidus of both genders wore long beaded necklaces and shell jewelry in their pierced ears and noses.

Today, some Maidu people still wear moccasins or beaded jewelry, but they wear modern clothes like jeans instead of grass skirts.

Yes--the Maidu tribe madedugout canoes by hollowing out pine logs. They used these canoes to travel and fish on the rivers. Here is a website with pictures ofIndian dugout canoes. Canoeing is still popular among California Indians, though few people carve a canoe by hand anymore. Today, of course, Maidu people also use cars... and non-native people also use canoes.

What was Maidu food like in the days before supermarkets?
The Maidus werehunter-gatherers. Maidu men hunted for deer and small game, and fished in the rivers. Maidu women gathered acorns and ground them into meal to make bread and soups, as well as collecting berries, nuts, and other plants. Here is a website with more information aboutNative American cooking.

Maidu hunters used bows and arrows. Maidu fishermen used nets and basket fish traps. The Maidus didn't go to war very often, but they did sometimes raid each others' villages. During raids like these, warriors usually fired arrows at each other instead of fighting hand to hand. Here is a website with pictures and information aboutIndian archery.

Maidu artists are known for their finebasketweaving. Here are pictures of someMaidu baskets.

What other Native Americans did the Maidu tribe interact with?

The Maidu primarily traded-- and fought-- amongst themselves. Each Maidu band had its own independent leadership, and they did not always cooperate with each other. Another tribe that the Maidu bands frequently interacted with was theMiwok tribe. Sometimes Miwok and Maidu people would marry each other.
Can you recommend a good book for me to read?
If you want to know more about Maidu culture and history, one interesting source for kids is
the origin of fire. Here's a website where you can read more aboutMaidu myths.

Maidu religious traditions, or this site aboutNative American beliefs and practices in general.How do I cite your website in my bibliography?
You will need to ask your teacher for the format he or she wants you to use. The authors' names are Laura Redish and Orrin Lewis and the title of our site is Native Languages of the Americas. We are a nonprofit educational organization working to preserve and protect Native American languages and culture. You can learn more about our organization

The Maidu. Older readers may enjoyThe Northern Maidu, an oral history by a Maidu elder. Two good books for kids on California Indians in general areCalifornia Native Peoples andNative Ways ; a more in-depth book for older readers isTribes of California. You can also browse through our recommendations ofNative American books in general. Disclaimer: we are an Amazon affiliate and our website earns a commission if you buy a book through one of these links. Most of them can also be found in a public library, though!

here. Our website was first created in 1998 and last updated in 2020.

Thanks for your interest in the Maidu Indian people and their language!

Sponsored Links

Maidu Indian Tribe
An overview of the Maidu tribe, their language and history.

Maidu Language Resources
Maidu Indian language samples, articles, and indexed links.

Maidu Culture and History Directory
Related links about the Maidu Native Americans past and present.

Maidu Words
Maidu Indian vocabulary lists.

Return to the Information About Native Americans homepage
Return to our menu of Indian nations

Tribal genealogy Chinook Delaware history Words in Indian

Would you like to help support our organization's work with endangered American Indian languages?

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Indigenous language American Indian people American Indian art Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Maidu tribe for school or home-schooling reports. We encourage students and teachers to visit our mainMaidu website for in-depth information about the tribe, but here are our answers to the questions we are most often asked by children, with Maidu pictures and links we believe are suitable for all ages.

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American Indian language American Indian culture American Indian art
Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Hupa tribe for school or home-schooling reports. We encourage students and teachers to visit our mainHupa website for in-depth information about the tribe, but here are our answers to the questions we are most often asked by children, with Hupa pictures and links we believe are suitable for all ages.

Sponsored Links What kinds of stories do the Hupas tell?
There are lots of traditional Hupa legends and fairy tales. Storytelling is very important to the Hupa Indian culture. Here is a story about

What about Hupa religion?
Spirituality and religion were important parts of Hupa life, and some people continue to practice traditional beliefs today. It is respectful to avoid imitating religious rituals for school projects since some Hupa people care about them deeply. You can read and learn about them, however. You can visit this site to learn more about

Hupa Tribe

Hupa is pronounced "hoo-pah." That is the name for their tribe in the language of theirYurok neighbors. In their own language, Hupa people called themselves Natinixwe. But today, most of the people use the name "Hupa" to refer to themselves. Sometimes it is spelled "Hoopa" instead. Like most Native American languages, the Hupa language was traditionally unwritten, so spellings of Hupa words in English sometimes vary a lot.

The Hupas are original people ofNorthern California. Most Hupa people still live there today.

Most Hupa people live on areservation in California, which belongs to the Hupa tribe and is under their control. The Hupa tribe has its own government, laws, police, and other services, just like a small country. Other Hupas live onrancherias together with Karuk,Yurok, and Tolowa Indians. Rancherias are small parcels of land that California Indians have partial control over.

In the past, there was no centralized Hupa government. Each Hupa village was informally led by an elder from the wealthiest clan in town. Today, the Hupa tribe is governed by an elected tribal council.

The Hupa speak English today. Some older people also speak their nativeHupa language. If you'd like to know an easy Hupa word, "He:yung" (pronounced hay-yung) is a friendly greeting. Here is aHupa picture glossary you can look at.

Today Hupa is anendangered language because most children aren't learning it anymore. However, some Hupa people are working to keep their language alive.

Here's a link to theHoopa Tribe's homepage. On their site you can find information about the Hupa people in the past and today.

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They do the same things any children do--play with each other, go to school and help around the house. Many Hupa children like to go hunting and fishing with their fathers. In the past, Indian kids had more chores and less time to play, just like colonial children. But they did have toys and games. One Hupa game was thehand game. Players held marked sticks behind their backs and gambled as they guessed the location of each stick. Another Hupa game isshinny, which is an athletic sport similar to lacrosse and rugby. Traditionally, only men and boys played shinny or the hand game. Hupa girls often played withdolls. Like many California Indians, Hupa mothers traditionally carried their babies inbaby baskets.

The Hupas lived in rectangular cedar-plank houses with pitched roofs and chimneys. Usually these buildings were large and an extended family lived in each one. Here are some pictures ofNative American homes like the ones Hupa Indians used. Today, most Hupas live in modern houses and apartment buildings, just like you.

Hupa men wore short deerskin kilts, and Hupa women wore longer skirts made of deerskin and grasses decorated with shells and beads. Shirts were not necessary in the Hupa culture, but both men and women wore ponchos or deerskin robes in cool or rainy weather. The Hupas usually went barefoot, but they did wearIndian moccasins on their feet while traveling. Here are some photos and links about theAmerican Indian clothing in general.

The Hupas didn't wear long headdresses like theSioux tribe. For dances and ceremonies, Hupa men sometimes wore a special headdress decorated with woodpecker scalps, likethis. Hupa women usually wore a wovenbasket hat. The Hupas painted their faces for dances or other special occasions. They alsotattooed themselves. Women tattooed lines on their chins, and men tattooed their arms. The Hupas often wore strands of beaded necklaces around their necks.

Today, some Hupa people still wear moccasins or beaded jewelry, but they wear modern clothes like jeans instead of kilts.

Yes--the Hupa tribe madedugout canoes by hollowing out redwood logs. The Hupa tribe used canoes to travel up and down the Trinity River fishing and trading. Here is a website ofNative canoe pictures. Canoeing is still popular among California Indians, though few people carve a dugout canoe by hand anymore. Today, of course, Hupa people also use cars... and non-native people also use canoes.

What was Hupa food like in the days before supermarkets?
The Hupas were fishing people. Hupa men caught salmon and other fish. They also sometimes hunted deer and small game. Hupa women gathered acorns and ground them into meal to bake bread with, as well as collecting berries, nuts, and other plants. Here is a website with more information about differenttypes of Indian foods.

Hupa hunters used bows and arrows. Hupa fishermen used spears, nets, and wooden fish traps. The Hupa didn't go to war very often. They had a complicated legal system and sued each other when they felt wronged, like Americans do today. But occasionally Hupa men would fight duels with clubs (usually not to the death.) Here is a website of pictures and information aboutNative American Indians weapons.

Hupa artists are known for their finebasket andcarving arts. Here is a picture of some beautifulHupa baskets.

What other Native Americans did the Hupa tribe interact with?

The different Hupa villages traded frequently with each other, and also with theYurok tribe, their closest traditional ally.
Can you recommend a good book for me to read?
If you want to know more about Hupa culture and history, one interesting source for kids is
a magical boy hero. Here's a website where you can read more aboutHupa myths.

Hupa religious traditions or this site aboutNative beliefs in general.How do I cite your website in my bibliography?
You will need to ask your teacher for the format he or she wants you to use. The authors' names are Laura Redish and Orrin Lewis and the title of our site is Native Languages of the Americas. We are a nonprofit educational organization working to preserve and protect Native American languages and culture. You can learn more about our organization

Hupa Tribe. Older readers may enjoyOur Home Forever, a more in-depth look at the Hupa people. Two good books for kids on California Indians in general areCalifornia Native Peoples andNative Ways ; a more complicated book for older readers isTribes of California. You can also browse through our reading list of recommendedNative American children's stories. Disclaimer: we are an Amazon affiliate and our website earns a commission if you buy a book through one of these links. Most of them can also be found in a public library, though!

here. Our website was first created in 1998 and last updated in 2020.

Thanks for your interest in the Hupa Indian people and their language!

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Hupa Indian Tribe
An overview of the Hupa tribe, their language and history.

Hupa Language Resources
Hupa Indian language samples, articles, and indexed links.

Hupa Culture and History Directory
Related links about the Hupa Native Americans past and present.

Hupa Words
Hupa Indian vocabulary lists.

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American Indian language American Indian culture American Indian art Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Hupa tribe for school or home-schooling reports.

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Facts for Kids: Chumash Indians (Chumashes)

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Information about the Chumash Indians for students and teachers. Covers food, homes, arts and crafts, weapons, culture, and daily life of the Chumashes.

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Cahuilla Fact Sheet

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Indigenous language preservation Native American cultures Words in Native American
Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Cahuilla Indian tribe for school or home-schooling reports. We encourage students and teachers to visit ourCahuilla Indian homepage for more in-depth information about the tribe, but here are our answers to the questions we are most often asked by children, with Cahuilla pictures and links we believe are suitable for all ages.

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What are Cahuilla arts and crafts like?
Cahuilla artists are known for their

Cahuilla Tribe

Cahuilla is pronounced kah-wee-ah. This was the Spanish name for the tribe, and its origins aren't completely clear. It may have been a Spanish corruption of the Cahuilla word for "chief,"qawiya. Although the Spanish used this name negatively to mean "heathens," the Cahuilla people use it positively today.

The Cahuilla are aCalifornia tribe, located in the center of Southern California. Most Cahuilla people still live in this area today.

Like many California Indians, the Cahuillas were placed in reservations together with other Mission Indians from different tribes. Areservation is land that belongs to an Indian tribe and is under their control. However, since most Cahuilla people share reservations with people from other tribes, they have to share that control as well. Each Mission Indian reservation has its own government, laws, police, and services, just like a small country.

In the past, Cahuilla people did not have a centralized government. Each clan had its own leader, and when a village or band wanted to solve broader problems, the clan leaders needed to meet and come to an agreement, because none of the clans had authority over each other. Today, Cahuilla tribes are led by council members elected by all the people on the reservation (both Cahuilla and non-Cahuilla.)

Cahuilla people all speak English today, but there are some people, especially elders, who also speak some of their nativeCahuilla language. If you'd like to know an easy Cahuilla word,míyaxwe (pronounced similar to "mee-yakh-weh") is a friendly greeting.

Here's a link to the homepage of theAgua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. On their site you can find information about the Cahuilla people in the past and today.

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They do the same things all children do--play with each other, go to school and help around the house. Many Cahuilla children like to go hunting and fishing with their fathers. In the past, Indian kids had more chores and less time to play in their daily lives, just like colonial children. But they did havedolls, toys, and games to play. Cahuilla kids enjoyed footraces. A Cahuilla mother traditionally carried a young child in anative cradleboard on her back--a custom which many American parents haveadopted now.

Cahuilla men were hunters and fishermen, and sometimes went to war to defend their families. Cahuilla women did most of the child care, cooking, and cleaning, and also made most of the clothing and household tools. Both genders took part in storytelling, artwork and music, and traditional medicine.

Most Cahuilla people lived in brush houses calledkish. Kish are small round or cone-shaped houses made of a wooden frame covered with reeds and brush. These are very simple houses and Cahuilla people really only used them to sleep in. When they were resting, socializing, or working on crafts, Cahuilla people sat outside-- it was rarely cold or rainy in the climate where they lived. Here are some pictures ofbrush houses.

Cahuilla people do not live in these old-fashioned dwellings today, any more than other Americans live in log cabins. Cahuilla families live in modern houses and apartment buildings, just like you.

Originally, Cahuilla people didn't wear much clothing-- men wore onlyAmerican Indian breechcloths, and women wore knee-length skirts. Shirts were not necessary in Cahuilla culture, but the Cahuillas sometimes wore rabbit-skin robes at night when the weather became cooler. Unlike most Native American tribes, the Cahuillas rarely wore moccasins. They either went barefoot or wore sandals. Here are some photos and links aboutIndian dress in general.

The Cahuillas did not wearPlains Indian war bonnets like the Sioux. Cahuilla women wore basket hats, and men went bare-headed. Traditionally, Cahuilla men and women both wore their hair long. The Cahuillas woretattoo designs that showed their clan affiliations, and they also painted their faces for special occasions. They used different patterns for war paint, religious ceremonies, and festive decoration.

Today, Cahuilla people wear modern clothes like jeans instead of breechcloths... and they only wear traditional regalia on special occasions like a wedding or a dance.

No--the Cahuilla Indians weren't coastal people, and rarely traveled by river. Usually they just walked. There were no horses in North America until colonists brought them over from Europe. Once Europeans brought horses to America, the Cahuillas could travel more quickly than before.

What was Cahuilla food like in the days before supermarkets?
The Cahuillas were hunter-gatherers, and moved from place to place frequently as they gathered food for their families. Cahuilla men hunted deer, rabbits, and small game, and went fishing in the rivers. Cahuilla women gathered acorns, nuts, beans, and fruits. They baked bread from specially prepared acorn flour, or sometimes from corn they got in trade from the Mojaves. Here is a website with more information abouttraditional Indian food.

Cahuilla hunters used bows and arrows and snares. Fishermen usually used nets. The Cahuillas did not often go to war, but when they did, warriors fired their arrows or used clubs. Here is a website withpictures of Native weapons.

What other Native Americans did the Cahuilla tribe interact with?

The Cahuillas often traded with neighboring tribes, such as theMojave,What kinds of stories do the Cahuillas tell?
There are lots of traditional Cahuilla legends and fairy tales. Storytelling is very important to the Cahuilla Indian culture. Here is one story about aCupeno, and andGabrielino tribes. They were especially close friends with the Gabrielinos. These two tribes often intermarried and invited each other to festivals.

What about Cahuilla religion?
Spirituality and religion were important parts of Cahuilla life, and some people continue to practice traditional beliefs today. It is respectful to avoid imitating religious rituals for school projects since some Cahuilla people care about them deeply. You can read and learn about them, however. You can visit this site to learn more about native baskets andbeaded jewelry. Here is an article aboutCahuilla basketry. Can you recommend a good book for me to read?

sacred blue lizard. Here's a website where you can read more aboutCahuilla mythology.
How do I cite your website in my bibliography?
You will need to ask your teacher for the format he or she wants you to use. The authors' names are Laura Redish and Orrin Lewis and the title of our site is Native Languages of the Americas. We are a nonprofit educational organization working to preserve and protect Native American languages and culture. You can learn more about our organization
Cahuilla beliefs, or this site aboutAmerican Indian beliefs in general.

The Heart Is Fire is an interesting book of interviews with Cahuilla elders, with many photographs of Cahuilla life and artifacts. OrMenill the Moon Maiden is a picture book about a Cahuilla legend that would be good for younger kids. If you'd like to learn more about Cahuilla culture and history, one great source for kids isCahuilla Native Americans. You can also browse through our reading list of recommendedNative American Indian books in general. Disclaimer: we are an Amazon affiliate and our website earns a commission if you buy a book through one of these links. Most of them can also be found in a public library, though!

here. Our website was first created in 1998 and last updated in 2020.

Thanks for your interest in the Cahuilla Indian people and their language!

Sponsored Links

Cahuilla Indian Tribe
An overview of the Cahuilla people, their language and history.

Cahuilla Language Resources
Cahuilla language samples, articles, and indexed links.

Cahuilla Culture and History Directory
Related links about the Cahuilla tribe past and present.

Cahuilla Words
Cahuilla Indian vocabulary lists.

Return to our Activities for Kids
Return to our maps of Native American reservations
Return to the list of languages

Indian heritage American Indian medicine Old Town Native American flutes

Would you like to help support our organization's work with endangered American Indian languages?

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Facts for Kids: Cahuilla Indians (Cahuillas)

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Indigenous language preservation Native American cultures Words in Native American Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Cahuilla Indian tribe for school or home-schooling reports.

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Native American Indian Facts

Washoe Tribe Women

Introduction
The Washoe Native American Indians, who are classified as Great Basin Indians, have a rich history dating back thousands of years. They originally occupied land throughout California and Nevada, including the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. They were the first known Lake Tahoe Region inhabitants. The name Tahoe actually comes from the Washoe language. It is a mispronunciation of the Washoe word, Da ow, meaning the lake. Today the Lake Tahoe area is home to tribal owned businesses, colonies, and even an annual Native American Arts Festival.

Click here for a great selection of Washoe Indian books on AMAZON .

Washoe Tribe History Facts

The land where the Washoe people lived was a mix of the Sierra Nevada's high mountains, low valleys and dry meadows. Because of the dry climate, fewer plants and animals populated the area than that of neighboring regions. It made hunting and gathering more challenging and required a great deal of skill and knowledge of the area.

In the spring and summer, Lake Tahoe was where the Washoe would go to hunt, gather and fish. It was considered a spiritual place with healing powers that many went to in order to rid themselves of worries and problems.

Men were responsible for hunting, fishing, and tool making. Small game like rabbits, hens, and waterfowl were much easier to come by than larger game like antelope, deer, and sheep. They would move seasonally to optimize hunting.

Women tended to the children, gathered plants, roots, fruits, and nuts, prepared the food, and weaved baskets.

The protein rich pine nut was the staple ingredient in the diet of the people of this region. Although the Washoe did not have the means to store large quantities of food for winter; they were able to store pine nuts and eat them throughout the year. The pine nut harvest was an annual tradition right before the winter move to a lower elevation. It was a significant social event for the Washoe incorporating stories, lessons for the young, and celebrations.

Because of the need to follow seasonal food resources, the Washoe were a nomadic tribe. They tended to move with each season. Their winter houses were the most permanent structure as they tended to stay in them the longest. The winter houses consisted of a circular pattern of long poles erected from the ground and secured at the top, and then covered with either tree bark or deer hide. The summer camps were simple, temporary dwellings made of woven brush and strips of willow.

Family units tended to stay in close proximity as much as possible. During summer months families sometimes split up to increase their success in catching fish and harvesting greens. In seasons such as fall, where resources were most plentiful, families were able to stay together.

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Present Day Washoe Tribe Facts

The native language of Washoe is currently in danger of becoming extinct with only a handful of fluent speakers.

The tribe was not especially known for their jewelry making but they did weave beautiful baskets. In fact, Washoe member Dat So La Lee became one of the most famous Native American basket weavers. Today her baskets can be seen at the Nevada State Museum and have an estimated worth of one million dollars.

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Great Basin American Indian Facts

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Native American Indian Facts The Washoe Native American Indians, who are classified as Great Basin Indians, have a rich history dating back thousands of years. They originally occupied land throughout California and Nevada, including the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. They were the first known Lake Tahoe Region inhabitants.