All about the ancient tribes
Chumash people lived in grass houses, which are made of a domed wooden frame thatched with grass. Some of these houses were quite large (fifty feet in diameter) and could house an entire extended family.
The Chumash house, or ‘ap, was round and shaped like half an orange. It was made by setting willow poles in the ground in a circle. The poles were bent in at the top, to form a dome. Then smaller saplings or branches were tied on crosswise.
Chumash, any of several related North American Indian groups speaking a Hokan language. They originally lived in what are now the California coastlands and adjacent inland areas from Malibu northward to Estero Bay, and on the three northern Channel Islands off Santa Barbara.
Their food included staple diet of acorns which they ground into acorn meal to make soup, cakes and bread. These great fishers used nets and harpoons to capture sharks and even whales. Smaller fish such as sea bass, trout, shellfish and halibut were primary food sources.
How do you say hello in Chumash? Cahuilla: Míyaxwe! ( pronounced “mee-yakh-way”) Chumash: Yawa! ( pronounced “yah-wah”) Cupeno: Miyaxwa! ( pronounced “mee-yakh-wa”) Hupa: He:yung! ( pronounced “hay-yung”) Karuk: Ayukii! ( pronounced “ah-yu-kee”) Diegueno: Haawka! ( Luiseno: Míyu! ( Miwok: Oppun towih? (
Mexican occupation (1834-1848) Many found highly exploitative work on large Mexican ranches. After 1849 most Chumash land was lost due to theft by Americans and a declining population, due to the effects of violence and disease. The remaining Chumash began to lose their cohesive identity.
They played contests and played games at special ceremonies. The Chumash Indians liked to play games. They played games and had contests at festivals and on special occasions.
The Chumash are a group of California Indians who lived on islands and along the coast of southern California. The name Chumash means “shell bead money maker.” The Chumash made delicate shell bead money (‘alchum) that they used for trade with other tribes. They were also known for the high quality of their baskets.
1: a member of an American Indian people of southwestern California. 2: the family of languages spoken by the Chumash people.
Kenneth Kahn, tribal leader of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, talks about progress of the tribe and tribal leaders’ goals.
The climate of the Chumash territory supported a variety of plant species, many of which were used in medicine. List of Chumash medicinal herbs.
Plant | Uses |
---|---|
Rattlesnake Weed | Rattlesnake bite |
Coastal Wood Fern | Wounds, sprains, bruises |
California Fuchsia | Cuts, sores, sprains |
Yerba Santa | Colds, chest pain, cough, fever |
Chumash traditions include traditional feasts, hunting, fishing, basketry and beadwork. Beadwork is an important tradition among the Chumash people. Hunting is another significant cultural activity that the Chumash people still uphold.
The acorn was a major staple of the Chumash Indian diet. Although bitter, they used a time-consuming method to make this food staple edible.