All about the ancient tribes
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.
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.
Smaller tomols were used for transportation and catching smaller fish. The Spanish invaded their lands in the late 1700’s and forced the Chumash to convert to Christianity become slave-like ‘Mission Indians’. The harsh treatment by the Spanish and then the Mexicans led to the short-lived Chumash Revolt of 1824.
Some Chumash became Catholics reluctantly and returned to their traditional religious practices when the mission system ended. Many, however, retained the Christian belief in a supreme being. Although many modern-day Chumash identify themselves as Catholic, few attend mass on a regular basis.
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.
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? (
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.
Archaeologists show that the Chumash Indians had been using shell beads as money for at least 800 years. As one of the most experienced archaeologists studying California’s Native Americans, Lynn Gamble(link is external) knew the Chumash Indians had been using shell beads as money for at least 800 years.
Types of Tools The Chumash had many different kinds of tools. They made bows and arrows usually for hunting. They used these bows and arrows to kill animals for food, clothing, and to make other tools. They also used spears and knives to kills animals, skin animals, clean fish, and cut things like food.
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.
Human history in California began when indigenous Americans first arrived some 13,000 years ago.
They traded with the Gabrielino and Kumeyaay. Some of the things they traded for is dry fish, obsidian, which is a hard rock that they used to make arrows and tools, and soapstone. They also trade baskets, wild cherry and chia seeds. They traded with shells and they get more things for the shells they trade.
In what is now called Malibu and Topanga, the Chumash and the Tongva thrived for thousands of years, living off the land and sea. Chumash means “seashell people,” and this tribe relied heavily on resources from the ocean. For nearly 4,000 years Malibu was inhabited by Chumash Indians.