American Indian Languages * American Indian Culture * What's new on our site today!

Native American Tribes of California

The original inhabitants of the area that is now California included:

*The Achumawi tribe
*The Atsugewi tribe
*The Cahuilla tribe
*The Chemehuevi tribe
*The Chilula tribe
*The Chimariko tribe
*The Chumash tribe
*The Cocopah tribe
*The Ohlone (Costanoan) tribe
*The Cupeno tribe
*The Diegueno (Kumeyaay) tribe
*The Esselen tribe
*The Gabrielino (Tongva) tribe
*The Halchidhoma tribe
*The Hupa tribe
*The Juaneno tribe
*The Karok tribe
*The Kashaya tribe
*The Kato tribe
*The Kawaiisu tribe
*The Kitanemuk tribe
*The Klamath tribe
*The Konkow tribe
*The Lassik tribe
*The Luiseno tribe
*The Maidu tribe
*The Mattole tribe
*The Miwok tribe
*The Modoc tribe
*The Mojave tribe
*The Mono tribe
*The Nisenan tribe
*The Nomlaki tribe
*The Nongatl tribe
*The Northern Paiute tribe
*The Panamint tribe
*The Patwin tribe
*The Pomo tribe
*The Quechan tribe
*The Salinan tribe
*The Serrano tribe
*The Shasta tribe
*The Shoshoni tribe
*The Sinkyone tribe
*The Southern Paiute tribe
*The Tataviam tribe
*The Tolowa tribe
*The Tubatulabal tribe
*The Wailaki tribe
*The Wappo tribe
*The Washoe tribe
*The Whilkut tribe
*The Wintu tribe
*The Wiyot tribe
*The Yana and Yahi tribes
*The Yokuts tribe
*The Yuki tribe
*The Yurok tribe

Teaching and learning activities about California Indians:

 Feel free to print these out for classroom use!

*California Tribes Word Search: Printable puzzle hiding the names of California's Indian tribes.
*California Language Greetings: Learn to say "hello" in several Native California languages.
*California Indian Facts for Kids: Answers to frequently asked questions about the tribes of California.
    We currently have pages for the Shoshone, Mojave, Wiyot and Yurok tribes.

Recommended books about California Native Americans:

*Native America: California Indians: Introducing California's Native American history and culture to kids.
*The California Indians: History and lifeways of California's Native American peoples.
*Handbook of the Indians of California: Classic anthropological text on the Native American cultures of California.
*The Way We Lived: California Indian Stories, Songs & Reminiscences: Collection of oral histories from California native tribes.
*The Heart Is Fire: The World of the Cahuilla Indians of Southern California: Fascinating mosaic of stories told by five California Indian elders.
*Flutes of Fire: The Indian Languages of California: Book of essays on California Indian languages.
*Digger: The Tragic Fate of the California Indians from the Missions to the Gold Rush: Book on California Indian history.
*Indians of California: The Changing Image: Another good book on the history of California Native American tribes.
*Indians, Missionaries, and Merchants: The Legacy of Colonial Encounters on the California Frontiers: History of the earliest interactions
    between Europeans and California Indians.
*The Fine Art of California Indian Basketry: Coffee-table book on the basket art of California Native Americans.
*Grass Games and Moon Races: California Indian Games and Toys: An interesting book of traditional pastimes in California Indian tribes.
*Our Home Forever: The Hupa Indians of Northern California: Excellent history of one California Indian tribe by a Hupa author.

Other resources about American Indian history, culture and society in California state:

*California Native American Heritage Commission: Native organization preserving and protecting California Indian relics and traditions.
*California Rural Indian Heath Board: Providing health care and social services to California Native Indians.
*California Nations Indian Gaming Association: Coalition of tribal governments overseeing the regulation of Indian casinos in California.
*California Indian Legal Services: Native-owned law firm serving California's Indian tribes and tribal members.
*Southern California Indian Center: LA-based intertribal community center.
*Indian Tribes in California: Tribal map of California with background information on each group.
*A History of American Indians in California: Articles on California Indian history from the National Park Service.
*California Indian Artifact Gallery: Photographs of California Indian baskets, pottery, and other artifacts from the Kumeyaay Museum.
*The Religion of the Indians of California: Complete e-text of an anthropology book on the native religions of the major tribes of California.
California Indian Baskets:
California Native baskets and other art for sale online. With many photographs.
Variations on Native Californian Themes: Guitar adaptations of traditional California Indian music.



Back to the index of US Indian tribes
Back to our Indian tribes map
Back to Native Americans for kids



Native American crafts * Native American ancestry * Muscogee Creek * Meskwaki casino * Indian tattoos

Would you like to sponsor our nonprofit work on California Indian languages?

or buy some books through this link:


Native Languages of the Americas website © 1998-2009 * Contacts and FAQ page