Indigenous Peoples of California

United States California  American Indian Research  Indians of California

One of the difficulties with American Indian 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.

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 American Indian research, find research facilities, and American Indian websites click here.

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, Alliklik, Atsugewi, Bear River, Cahto, Cahuilla, Chasta, Chaushila, Chemehuevi, Chetco, Chilula, Chimariko, Chumash, Coast Indian Community, Costanoan, Cupeno, Cuyapaipe Band, Dakubetede, Diegueno,  Ech, Esselen, Fernandeno, Gabrielino, Halchidhoma, Hoopa, Huchnom, Hupa, Juaneno, 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

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

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

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
 * Fort Yuma Boarding School
 * 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
 * Sherman Institute
 * 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 Family History Library Catalog by Tribe and locality


 * 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

Reservations
From the mid-1800s, 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
 * Augustine Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Augustine Band of Mission Indians
 * Barona Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Barona Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians
 * 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
 * Cahuilla Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Cahuilla Band of Mission Indians
 * Campo Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Mission Band of Indians
 * 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
 * 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.
 * Fort Independence Resrvation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Paiute
 * 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
 * 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
 * La Jolla Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: La Jolla Band of Mission Indians
 * La Posta reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: La Posta Band of Mission Indians
 * 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
 * Manzanita Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Manzanita Band of Mission Indians
 * Mendocino Reservation
 * Mesa Grande Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Mesa Grand Band of Mission Indians
 * Mission Reservation
 * Mission Creek Resevation: Federal,Tribe: Mission Creek Band of Mission Indians
 * Morongo Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Morongo Band of Mission Indians
 * Pala Reservation: Federal, under ther jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe:Pala band of Mission Indians
 * Pauma &amp; Yuima Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Pauma Band of Mission Indians
 * Rincon Reservation: State, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: San Luiseno Band of Mission Indians
 * 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, Nomalaki, and Wintun Tribes.
 * San Manual Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: San Manuel Band
 * San Pasqual Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians
 * Santa Rosa Reservation:: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Tache
 * Santa Ynez Reservation: Federal, under ther jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Santa Ynez band of Mission Indians
 * Santa Ysabel Reservation:*Sycuan Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Sycuan Band of Mission Indians
 * 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
 * Twenty-Nine Palms Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Twenty Nine Palms Band
 * Viejas Reservation: Federal, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe: Viejas Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians
 * 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

Rancherias
The San Diego State University's On-Line Encyclopedia of California Indians contains the following definition of rancherias in California:


 * The Spanish term for small Indian settlements. Rancherias are a particular California institution. A small area of land was set aside around an Indian settlement to create a rancheria. Some rancherias developed from small communities of Indians formed on the outskirts of American settlements who were fleeing Americans or avoiding removal to the reservations. Reservations represented lands bought for Indians previously without land, or lands traditionally uninhabited, as happened to Indian groups east of the Sierra divide. Before 1906, most land set aside for California Indians were designated as reservations. Between 1906 and 1934, 54 rancherias were established, as well as one "Indian village." Since 1934, five rancherias, an "Indian village," an "Indian community," and four reservations have been established. With the passage of Public Law 83-280 in the mid-1950s, terminating federal supervision and control over California tribes, some 40 rancherias lost the right to certain federal programs, and their lands no longer had the protection of federal status. In 1983, a lawsuit resulted in restoring federal recognition to 17 rancherias, with others still waiting for the reversal of their termination.


 * Alturas Rancheria, Federal, under the jurisdiction of Northern California Agency, Tribe: Paiute River
 * Bear River Rancheria -- see Hoopa Valley Agency
 * Berry Creek Rancheria, Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Maidu
 * Big Bend Rancheria, Federal, Tribe: Pitts
 * Big Lagoon Rancheria,State, under the jurisdiction of Northern California Agency, Tribe:
 * Big Sandy Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe:
 * Big Valley Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe:
 * Blue Lake Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Northern California Agency, Tribe: -- see Hoopa Valley Agency
 * Bridgeport Colony, State, under the jurisdiction of Central Califronia Agency, Tribe:
 * Buena Vista Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe:
 * Cedarville Rancheria, Federal, under the jurisdiction of Northern California Agency, Tribe Paiute
 * Chicken Ranch Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe:
 * Chico Rancheria
 * Cloverdale Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe:
 * Cold Springs Rancheria, Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Mono
 * Colusa Rancheria, Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Cahil Dehe Band of Wintun
 * Cortina Rancheria, Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Wintun
 * Coyote Valley Rancheria, State under the jurisdiction of Cenrtal California Agency, Tribe:
 * Crescent City Rancheria -- see Hoopa Valley Agency
 * Dry Creek Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe:
 * Eel River Rancheria -- see Hoopa Valley Agency
 * Elk Valley Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Northern California Agency, Tribe:
 * Enterprise Rancheria, Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Maidu
 * Graton Rancheria
 * Greenville Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Maidu
 * Grindstone Rancheria, Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Nomalaki-Wailaki
 * Hopland Ranacheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Pomo
 * Jackson Rancheria, Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Me-Wuk
 * Jamul Indian Village, State, under the jurisdiction of Southern California Agency, Tribe:
 * Karuk Tribe: State, under the jurisdiction of Northern California Agency, Tribe: Karuk
 * Laytonville Rancheria, Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Cahto
 * Likely Rancheria, Federal, Tribe: Pit River
 * Lookout Rancheria, Federal, Tribe: Pit River
 * Lower Lake Rancheria
 * Lytton Rancheria
 * Manchester Point Arena Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe:
 * Middletown Rancheria, Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Pomo-Patwin
 * Montgomery Creek Rancheria, Federal, Tribe: Pit River
 * Mooretown Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe:
 * Northfork Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe:
 * Picayune Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe:
 * Pinoleville Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe:
 * Pit River Tribe, State, under the jurisdiction of Northern California Agency, Tribe: Pit River
 * Potter Valley Rancheria, Stae, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe:
 * Quartz Valley Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Northern California Agency, Tribe:
 * Ramona Rancheria, Federal, under the jurisdiction of Sourthern California Agency, Tribe: Ramona Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians
 * Redding Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Northern California Agency, Tribe:
 * Redwood Valley Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe:
 * Resighini Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Northern California Agency, Tribe:
 * Roaring Creek Rancheria, Federal, Tribe: Pit River
 * Robinson Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe:
 * Rohnerville Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Northern California Agency, Tribe: Bear River Band
 * Rumsey Rancheria, Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Wintun
 * Santa Rosa Rancheria, Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Tache
 * Sheep Ranch Rancheria, Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Me-Wuk
 * Sherwood Valley Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe:
 * Shingle Springs Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe:
 * Smith Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Northern California Agency, Tribe:
 * Smith River Rancheria -- see Hoopa Valley Agency
 * Stewarts Point Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe:
 * Sulphur Bank Rancheria, Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Pomo
 * Susanville Rancheria, Federal, under the jurisdiction of Northern California Agency, Tribes: Paiute, Maidu, Pit River and Washoe
 * Table Bluff Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Northern California Agency, Tribe:
 * Table Mountain Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe:
 * Trinidad Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Northern California Agency, Tribe:
 * Tuolumne Rancheria, Federal, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe: Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk
 * Upper Lake Rancheria, State, under the jurisdiction of Central California Agency, Tribe:
 * Woodfords Community, State, under the jurisdiction of Western Nevada Agency, Tribe

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

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