California Indians California Indians

Past and PresentPast and Present

Created and Presented by Lisa A Ritchie Martin

Northern California Indian GroupsNorthern California Indian Groups

• Modoc• Pomo• Yuki• Yurok• Shasta• Achumawi• Hupa• Maidu• Pomo• Miwok• Washo

California IndianTribal Groups

South-Central California Indian South-Central California Indian GroupsGroups

• Cosstanoan• Yokuts• Chumash

Southern California Indian GroupsSouthern California Indian Groups

• Mojave• Yuma• Luiseno• Cahuilla• Gabrielino• Juaneno• Serrano• Cupeno

Group Region Foods Houses

Chumash Coast Fish, birds, sea animals

Large, dome-shaped

Miwok Valley Acorns, deer Cone-shaped, partly underground

Washo Mountain Deer, antelope Made from deer, antelope

Yuma Desert Seeds, fruit, fish, corn, beans

Square-shaped, sand-covered

California Indian LifeCalifornia Indian Life

Passing Down Their HistoryPassing Down Their History

• Folklore – is stories and customs of a group of people• Myths – stories that explain things in nature• Legends – stories about people in the past• Traditions – special way a group of people does

something• Rock Art – painted or carved pictures on rock

MythsRock Art

BeliefsBeliefs• Spirits - helped them but also could cause

problems• Ceremony – important activity done for

special reason, – special leaders led the ceremonies

HAAID – SPIRITS OF THE SEA Pow Wow ceremony

Art and MusicArt and Music

• Baskets - teach the art of making baskets• Whistles - carved from wood or animal bones• Rattles - made from buffalo hooves• Jewelry - used animal bones to make jewelry• Flutes - made from bones of birds• Dolls – used clay to make dolls for children

CustomsCustoms

• Healing rattles - made from cocoons and attached to wooden handle

• Dances - believed they kept the people well and bring success in a hunt

• Animals – were honored that were connected to family group

• Bird songs - important tradition

FolkloreFolklore

• Pomo – Stories of Coyote

• Washo – How Mount Shasta Came to Be

• Miwok – A Very Small Hero

• Mojave – Great Tellings

California Indians TodayCalifornia Indians Today

• Still home to many Indians

• Some live on areas of land that their group owned

• Some moved to cities for jobs

• Most live and dress as other Americans

• Some still perform traditional ceremonies

• Keep customs alive for future generations