Indigenous Peoples of California

Learn of the Indians of California, tribes and bands, state recognized tribes, Spanish missions, agencies, reservations, rancherias, and records.

One of the difficulties with Native American research in California is in the terminology used. In most of the United States, the difference between the term tribe and band is quite clear. In California, the Bureau of Indian Affairs seems to have used the two terms almost interchangeably. At least some bands, or subdivisions, of some tribes are sometimes identified as tribes. And in a few case, smaller trust areas of land are called villages or colonies or settlements.

What are called reservations in most states are sometimes identified as such in California, but smaller land areas are also called Rancherias. Rancheria is a small reservation, the land was purchased by small tribes or by the government in behalf to those tribes. The term is applied to the office for the tribe(s) occupying or owning the land.

Jurisdictions are also sometimes confusing. Agencies of the Bureau of Indian Affairs certainly existed and operated in California, but sometimes the duties of an agency were carried out by a school or a subagency. While that happened in other states, too, it seems to have been more common in California.

Another unique part of California Indian research is the need to be fully aware of the influence of the Spanish Missions, especially from 1769 to the mid-1800s. Much of the native population associated with these early missions and some were converted to Catholicism and have their names included in the Mission records.

To learn how to get started with Native American research, find research facilities, and Native American websites click here or go to Research Guide California Native Americans

Tribes and Bands of California
The following list of American Indians who have lived in California has been compiled from Hodge's Handbook of American Indians... and from Swanton's The Indian Tribes of North America. Some may simply be variant spellings for the same tribe.

Achomawi--or Pit River Indians occupied the drainage area of Pit river from a few miles below Round mountain up into the south end of Goose Lake Valley, about twenty miles above Alturas.

Agua Caliente -- A small Shoshonean division on the head waters of San Luis Rey r., s. Cal, forming one linguistic group with the Kawia, Luiseno, and Juaneño.

Alliklik -- Alliklik Indians are part of the Shoshonean division of the Indians of California. Living on the upper Santa Clara River in California. Also known as the Tataviam.

Atsugewi -- They are very industrious and hardworking people. Depending on vegetables, acorns and fish to survive.

Bear River Traditionally living in the Cape Mendocino, in the vicinity of the Mattole and Bear rivers area.

Cahto Sometimes called "People of the Lake" or Lake People, refers to a Ancient lake shore where many of the people lived.

Cahuilla They are referred to as Desert, Mountain and Pass Cahuillas. The Cahuilla located their people near water and food sources.

Chasta A group of small tribes or divisions forming the Shastan linguistic family of north California and formerly extending into Oregon.

Chaushila --As a tribe they are now extinct.

Chemehuevi -- Chemehuevi. A Shoshonean tribe, apparently an offshoot of the Paiute, formerly inhabiting the east bank of the Rio Colorado

Chetco -- A group of former Athapascan villages situated on each side of the mouth of and about 14 miles up Chetco river, Oregon.

Chilula The Chilula villages were near lower Redwood Creek to several miles upstream, near Minor Creek. All but one were on the NE side of the river, where timber was not as dense.

Chimariko A small tribe, comprising the Chimarikan family, formerly on Trinity River, near the mouth of New River, Northern California, extending from Hawkins Bar to about Big Bar, and probably along lower New River; they adjoined the Hupa downstream and the Winton upstream.

Chumash The Chumash Indians were some of the first people to inhabit North America. Once a thriving culture, the Chumash, as did other Native American tribes, succumbed to Spanish conquistadors and American colonists.

Chumash Indians Coast Indian Community --There were at one time over 20,000 Chumash living along the California coastline.

Costanoan Are a Native American people of the central California coast.

Cupeno--Cupeño are a Native American tribe from Southern California. Their name in their own language is Kuupangaxwichem

Cuyapaipe Band -- The tribes had comparatively peaceful culture, living in costal plaines of California.

Dakubetede -- Inhabiting the territory between San Diego, southern California and the mouth of the Rio Colorado.

Diegueno--The Diegueno belonged to the Central division of the Yuman linguistic group.

Esselen-- Previously resided on the Central California Coast. They were one of the smallest native American tribes in California

Fernandeno -- The Tataviam people have continued to maintain a local tribal government since those times. Despite a lack of federal acknowledgement as a recognized Native American Tribe, the Tribe defies limitations in its continued perseverance to defend the rights of Fernandeño Tataviam people as Indian people.

Gabrielino-While Gabrieleño (also Gabrielino) remains in use, the name Tongva has become increasingly preferred as a self-designation since the 1990's.

Halchidhoma--The Halchidhoma were part of an alliance that also included the Maricopa and Cocopa.

Hoopa--Native American tribes in Northwestern California.

Huchnom,

Hupa,

Juaneno, The Juanero Band of Mission Indians is the only a State Recognized Tribe - by California

Kamia, Karok, Kasihta, Kato,Kawaiisu, Kitanemake, Konkau, Konomihu, Koso, Lassik, Little Lake, Luiseno, Maidu, Mattole, Miwok, Modoc, Mohava, Mono, Nicoleno, Nongatl, Okwanuchu, Paiute (Northern), Patwin, Pomo, Quechan, Salinan, Serrano, Shasta, Shoshone, Sinkyone, Tolowa, Tubatulabal, Vanyume, Wailaki, Wappo, Washoe, Whilkut, Wintu, Wintun, Wiyot, Yahi, Yana, Yokuts, Yuki, Yuma, Yurok

Barona Group of Captian Grande Band,Coyote Valley Band,Inaja Cosmit Band, La Jolla Band, La Posta Band, Los Coyotes Band, Romona Band, Paiute: Mono Lake


 * Heizer, Robert Fleming and Mary Anne Whipple. The California Indians: A Source Book. WorldCat
 * Kroeber, Alred Louis. Handbook of the Indians of California. WorldCat

California State Recognized Tribes
Juaneno Band of Mission Indians

Historical Background
A number of tribes have resided in California, some centered around the Spanish missions there. Others had no connection to those missions. The Spanish missions were the first effort at encouraging good relationships between the natives and the Caucasian settlers. Efforts were made to teach the Indians about farming methods, the Catholic religion, and other matters.

Old Spanish Missions of California, with dates of their founding

 * La Purisima Concepcion -- 1787
 * Nuestra Senora de la Soledad -- 1791
 * San Antonio de Padua -- 1771
 * San Buenaventura -- 1782
 * San Carlos Borromeo de Monterey -- 1770
 * San Diego de Alcala -- 1769
 * San Fernando Rey -- 1797
 * San Francisco de Asis (Dolores) -- 1776
 * San Francisco Solaro (San Solano or Sonoma) -- 1823
 * San Gabriel Arcangel -- 1771
 * San Jose -- 1797
 * San Juan Bautista -- 1797
 * San Luis Obispo de Tolosa -- 1772
 * San Luis Rey de Fancia -- 1798
 * San Juan Capistrano -- 1776
 * San Miguel -- 1797
 * San Pedro y San Pablo de Bicuner -- 1780
 * San Rafael -- 1817
 * Santa Barbara -- 1786
 * Santa Clara -- 1777
 * Santa Cruz -- 1791
 * Santa Ines -- 1804

Pablo Tac., An Indian Neophyte, Indian Life and Customs at Mission San Luis Rey. Written about 1835. Edited and translated by Minna and Gordon Hewes. WorldCat

Agencies and Subagencies of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
Agencies and subagencies were created as administrative offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and its predecessors. Their purpose was (and is) to manage Indian affairs with the tribes, to enforce policies, and to assist in maintaining the peace. The names and location of these agencies may have changed, but their purpose remained basically the same.Many of the records of genealogical value were created by these offices.

The following list of agencies that have operated or now exist in California has been compiled from Hill's Office of Indian Affairs..., Hill's Guide to Records in the National Archives Relating to American Indians , and others.

For a few years in the early Twentieth Century, there were Indian offices in California that acted as agencies but were called superintendencies. They have been included in this list of agencies and subagencies.


 * Bishop Agency
 * California Agency
 * Campo Superintendency
 * Capitan Grande Agency
 * Central California Agency, 1800 Tribute Road, Suite 111, Sacramento, CA, 95815
 * Colorado River Agency, Rt. 1, Box 9-C, Parker, AZ, 85344
 * Digger Agency
 * Fort Bidwell Agency
 * Fort Yuma Agency
 * Fresno Subagency
 * Greenville Agency
 * Hoopa Valley Agency
 * Klamath Agency
 * Mendocino Subagency
 * Mission Agency
 * Morongo Subagency
 * Nome Lackee Agency
 * Northern California Agency, P.O. Box 49879, Churn Creek Rd, Suite 300, Redding, CA,92262
 * Pala Superintendency
 * Palm Springs Field Station, P.O. Box 2245, 441 S. Calle Enilia, Suite 8, Palm Springs, CA,92262
 * Pechanga Superintendency
 * Roseburg
 * Round Valley Agency
 * Sacramento Agency
 * Sebastian Agency -- another name for the Tejon Agency
 * Smith River Agency
 * Soboba Superintendency
 * Southern California Agency, 3600 Lime St., Suite 722, Riverside, CA, 92501
 * Tejon Agency
 * Torres-Martinez Subagency
 * Tule River Agency
 * Upper Lake - Ukiah Agency
 * Volcan Superintendency
 * Walker River Agency
 * Western Nevada Agency, 1300 South Curry Street, Carson City, NV, 89701

Records
The majority of records of individuals were those created by the agencies. Some records may be available to tribal members through the tribal headquarters.They were (and are) the local office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and were charged with maintaining records of the activities of those under their responsibility. Among these records are:


 * Allotment records
 * Annuity rolls
 * Census records
 * Correspondence
 * Health records
 * Reports
 * School census and records
 * Vital records

Allotment Records
The General Allotment Act was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1887, marking the establishment of the allotment of land to individuals as the official and widespread policy of the federal government toward the Native Americans. Under this policy, land (formerly land held by the tribe or tribal land) was allotted to individuals to be held in trust until they had shown competency to handle their own affairs. The Bureau of Indian Affairs was the trustee.

Individual American Indians were given a prescribed amount of land on a reservation based upon what land was available and the number of tribal members living on that reservation. Generally, the amount of land allotted was 160 Acres for each head of family, 80 Acres for each single person over eighteen years of age, 80 Acres for each orphan child under eighteen years of age, and 40 Acres for each single person under eighteen years of age. This was dependent upon there being sufficient land available on the existing reservation. If the total acreage on the reservation was insufficient, the amounts of land were pro-rated accordingly.

Not all tribes and reservations were allotted.

Allotted Tribes of California


 * Agua Caliente Reservation, Cold Springs Rancheria, Fort Independence Reservation, Hoopa Valley Rancheria (Klamath River Reservation), Mission Agency Indian Reservations: Augustine, Cabazon, Cahuilla, La Jolla, Mission Creek, Morongo, Pala, Pauma, Rincon, Sycuan, Torres-Martinez. Round Valley Reservation, Tuolumne Rancheria, Yuma Reservation, Yurok Reservation, Colorado River (Mohave)

Church Records

 * Mission San Antonio, California 1771-1882. FHL films 913297-913299
 * Mission San Buena Ventura, California 1782-1915. FHL films 913170-913172
 * Mission San Carlos, Carmel by the Sea, California 1770-1915. FHL films 913159-913164, and 913167,913303, 913315 and 909228
 * Mission San Diego, California 1769-1822. FHL films 830163 - 944001
 * Mission San Luis Obispo, California 1772-1906. FHL films 913300-913302 and 909228
 * Mission San Miguel, California 1797-1937. FHL films 913312-913314
 * Mission San Rafael, California 1817-1907. FHL films 909235-909234
 * Mission Santa Cruz, California 1791-1894. FHL films 913304-913307

Search the FamilySearch catalog for author Zephyrin Engelhardt Father of the missions.


 * Powers, Laura Bride. The missions of California. San Francisco; William Doxey, 1897. FHL book 979.4 K2p

Indian Schools
The Office of Indian Affairs (now the Bureau of Indian Affairs) established a network of schools throughout the United States, beginning with Carlisle Indian School, established in 1879. Some of these schools were day schools, usually focusing on Indian children of a single tribe or reservation. Some were boarding schools which served Indian children from a number of tribes and reservations.

In addition, other groups such as various church denominations established schools specifically focusing on American Indian children. (read more...)

The following list of Indian Schools in California has been compiled from Hill's Office of Indian Affairs..., Hill's Guide to Records in the National Archives Relating to American Indians , and others.


 * Bishop School
 * Cahuilla School
 * Campo School
 * Capitan Grande School
 * Fort Bidwell School 1898-1930 (National Archives at San Francisco)
 * Fort Yuma Boarding School 1913-1928 under the Fort Yuma Agency (National Archives at Riverside)
 * Greenville Boarding School -- records 1897-1902, 1901-1911, Family History Library film
 * Hoopa Valley School -- records, 1896-1942, Family History Library 1st film
 * Independence School
 * La Jolla School
 * Martinez School
 * Mesa Grande School
 * Pala School
 * Pechanga School
 * Perris Indian School -- Forerunner of Sherman Institute
 * Potrero School
 * Rincon School
 * Riverside Indian School -- forerunner of Sherman Institute
 * Round Valley School -- records 1897-1916, Family History Library film
 * St. Boniface Indian Industrial School FHL book 970.1 B227s
 * Sherman Institute 1898-1980 (National Archives at Riverside)
 * Soboba School
 * Tule River School
 * Ukiah Day School
 * Upper Lake School
 * Volcan School

Indian Health Facilities

 * Fort Bidwell Hospital
 * Fresno Health Center
 * Soboba Hospital
 * Ukiah Health Center

Maps

 * Map of Indian Lands: Region 9 -- Reservations, Rancherias, Colonies... EPA map, Feb. 2000

Family History Library
For a complete list of available records search the FamilySearch Catalog by Tribe and locality (state and county)


 * Sacramento Area Office Family History Library fiche:
 * Sherman Institute 2 films 1920-1940 Family History Library
 * Phoenix Area Office Family History Library film
 * California Superintendency 1849-1880 First film
 * The Population of the California Indians, 1769-1970. WorldCat
 * U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs 1933 California Roll Book FHL book 970.1 E36u
 * Native Americans of California and Nevada. by Jack D. Forbes WorldCat
 * The California Indians. by Robert Fleming Heizer and Mary Anne Whipple WorldCat
 * Handbook of the Indians of California. by Alfred Louis Kroeber. WorldCat
 * Indians and Intruders in Central California. by George Harwood Phillips. Norman, Ok: University of Oklahoma Press, c1993. World Cat

FamilySearch Catalog California Native Races for over 150 titles

Reservations
From the mid-1800's, the official policy of the United States government toward the American Indian was to confine each tribe to a specific parcel of land called a reservation. Agencies were established on or near each reservation. A government representative, usually called an agent (or superintendent) was assigned to each agency. Their duties included maintaining the peace, making payments to the Native Americans based on the stipulations of the treaties with each tribe, and providing a means of communication between the native population and the federal government.

Sometimes, a single agency had jurisdiction over more than one reservation. And sometimes, if the tribal population and land area required it, an agency may have included sub-agencies.

The boundaries of reservations, over time, have changed. Usually, that means the reservations have been reduced in size. Sometimes, especially during the later policy of "termination," the official status of reservations was ended altogether.

In the 19th Century, some of the Indian tribes in California were brought under the jurisdiction of the Office of Indian Affairs and were placed on reservations.

For a current reservation map - California - Indian Reservations- The National Atlas of the United States of America. Federal Lands and Indian Reservations. By the U.S. Department of Interior and U.S. Geological Survey

The following list of reservations has been compiled from the National Atlas of the United States of America, the Omni Gazetteer of the United States of America , and other sources. Those reservations named in bold are current federally-recognized reservations located wholly or partially in California, with their associated agency and tribe(s). Others have historically been associated with the state or are not currently recognized by the federal government.


 * Agua Caliente Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Palm Springs Field Station, Tribe: Agua Caliente Band Nearest Town: palm Springs, CA
 * Augustine Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Augustine Band of Mission Indians Nearest Town: Thermal, CA
 * Barona Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Barona Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians Nearest Town: Alpine, CA
 * Benton Paiute Reservation, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Paiute
 * Big Pine Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Paiute-Shoshone
 * Bishop Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Paiute-Shoshone
 * Cabazon Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Cabazon Band of Mission Indians Nearest Town: Indio, CA
 * Cahuilla Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Cahuilla Band of Mission Indians Nearest Town: Anz, CA
 * Campo Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Mission Band of Indians
 * Captain Grande Reservation:                    Nearest Town: Lakeside, CA
 * Chemehuevi Reservation: State, under the jurisdiction of Colorado River Agency, Tribe:
 * Captain Grande Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Mission Tribes
 * Colorado River Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Colorado River Agency, Tribes: Mojave and Chemehuevi
 * Cuyapaipe Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Cuyapaipe Band of Mission Indians Nearest Town: Pine Valley, CA
 * Digger Reservation
 * Fort Bidwell Reservation -- located in the extreme northeastern corner of California, in Modoc County, near the Oregon and Nevada borders. It is a federally-recognized reservation, under the jurisdiction of the Northern California Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It serves primarily the Paiute Tribe. Neaarst Town: Fort Bidwell, CA
 * Fort Independence Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Paiute  Nearest Town: Independence, CA
 * Fort Mojave Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Colorado River Agency, Tribe Mojave
 * Fort Yuma Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Fort Yuma Agency, Tribe Quechan
 * Hupa (or Hoopa) Valley Extension Reservation -- see Yurok Reservation Nearest tTown: Weitchpec, CA
 * Hupa (or Hoopa) Valley Reservation -- located in northwestern California, not far from Eureka. It is a federally-recognized reservation, serving the Hupa (Hoopa) Tribe. It adjoins the Yurok Reservation.
 * Inaja-Cosmit Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Inaja-Cosmit Nearest Town: Julian, CA
 * La Jolla Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: La Jolla Band of Mission Indians Nearest Town: Valley Center, CA
 * La Posta reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: La Posta Band of Mission Indians Nearest Town: Boulevard, CA
 * Lone Pine Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe Piaute-Shoshone
 * Los Coyotes Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Los Coyotes Band of Mission Indians and Luiseno Nearest Town: Warner Springs,CA
 * Manzanita Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Manzanita Band of Mission Indians and Diegueno Nearest Town: Pine Valley, CA
 * Mendocino Reservation
 * Mesa Grande Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Mesa Grand Band of Mission Indians and Luiseno Nearest Town: Santa Ysabel, CA
 * Mission Reservation
 * Mission Creek Reservation: Federal,Tribe: Mission Creek Band of Mission Indians
 * Morongo Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Morongo Band of Mission Indians and Serrano Nearest Town: Banning, CA
 * Pala Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Pala band of Mission Indians and Luiseno
 * Pauma &amp; Yuima Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Pauma Band of Mission Indians and Luiseno Nearest Town: Valley Center, CA
 * Pechanga Reservation: Tribe: Luisenno  Nearest Town: Temecula, CA
 * Ramona Reservation:  Tribe:     Nearest Town: Valle VVista or Anza, CA
 * Rincon Reservation: State, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: San Luiseno Band of Mission Indians Nearest Town Valley Center, CA
 * Round Valley Reservation -- located in northern California in Mendocino County. It is a federally-recognized reservation under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency and serves the Yuki, Pit River, Little Lake, Concow (Konkow), Wyaki Pomo, Nomelacki, Wailaki, Yuki, and Wintun Tribes.   Nearest Town: Covelo, CA
 * San Manual Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: San Manuel Band and Serrano Nearest Town: San Bernardino, CA
 * San Pasqual Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians ans Luiseno Nearest Town: Valley Center, CA
 * Santa Rosa Reservation:: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Tache and Cahuilla Nearest Town: Hemet, CA
 * Santa Ynez Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Santa Ynez band of Mission Indians and Chumash
 * Santa Ysabel Reservation:*Sycuan Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Sycuan Band of Mission Indians and Diegueno
 * Soboba Reservation Tribe: Cahuilla   Nearest Town: San Jacinto,CA
 * Sycuan Reservation Tribe: Diegueno  Nearest Town: El Cajon, CA
 * Timba-Sha Reservation: State, under the jurisdiction of California Agency, Tribe:
 * Torres-Martinez Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of California Agency, tribe: Torres-Martinez Band of Mission Indians
 * Tule River Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Tule River Tribe Nearest Town: Porterville, CA'''
 * Twenty-Nine Palms Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Twenty Nine Palms Band and Serrano
 * Viejas Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Viejas Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians and Diegueno Nearest Town: Lakeside, CA
 * XL Ranch Reservation -- located in northeastern California in Modoc County. It is a federally-recognized reservation serving the Pit River-Paiute Tribe.
 * Yuma Reservation
 * Yurok Reservation -- located in northwestern California, near Eureka, it is a federally-recognized reservation serving the Yurok Tribe. It adjoins the Hoopa Valley Reservation and has sometimes been called the Hoopa Valley Extension Reservation

Other Repositories
American Indian Council of Central California, P.O. Box 3341, Bakersfield, CA, 93386

California Native American Heritage Commission, 915 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, DA, 95814

The American Indian Resource Center is located at Huntington Park Library, 6518 Miles Ave., Huntington Park, CA 90255, (323) 583-2794. To learn more about this facility, click here.

See also:
California_Church_Records for a list of missions

California_History for a calendar of events

California_Military_Records for a list of forts