Chumash Indians

Abstract:

This paper presents a brief history of the Chumash Indians who occupy Southern California, as well as a look into present-day issues affecting this group.  The Santa Ynez Reservation is the only federally recognized group of the Chumash and have played a major role in some of the political and environmental issues that face the local Southern California coastline.  Taking a look at their history is essential to understanding their struggles with the mainstream world they find themselves in today.

Introduction:

            The name Chumash was not a term given to these Indians by Europeans.  It is suggested that it is a term used to describe the group by other Chumash Indians, particularly those living on the Channel Islands.  However, it is unknown what they called themselves before Europeans arrived.[1]  The Chumash began losing their culture early on.  By living on the missions and eventually falling into the hands of ranchers, these Indians were secluded from outside groups and their culture was surely affected.[2]

The Chumash Indians lived in California along the coast and further inland in the areas surrounding modern-day Santa Barbara, including the Channel Islands off the coast.  These Channel Islands made for an excellent habitat for these Indians due to their protection from the weather of the ocean and the abundant marine life that accompanied this protection in the Channel.  Estimates suggest that about 20,000 people made up this group, which is a rather large number in comparison to other native groups.[3]  Today there are more than 5,000 people who identify themselves as Chumash Indian.[4]  It is suggested that they occupied cities large enough for 1,000 inhabitants, a density of ten people per square mile throughout their lands.[5]  The climate allows for the land to be very productive with the exception of El Nino years.  The weather is generally cool with hot summers.  The abundant ocean and marine life were essential to this group. [6]

            The language spoken by the Chumash is known as Chumashan and there are different dialects, some of which the groups would have been able to comprehend, and others that were unintelligible to them.  Their language is also not strikingly similar to any other Indian groups, suggesting they have been around for a long time before others arrived.[7]  These various languages are no longer spoken, but in recent times there has been a revival of Chumash culture, with some interested in bringing these languages back.[8]

            When Europeans began arriving in the 16^th century, the Chumash Indians did not seem to be heavily impacted at first.  However, once missions were established, such as Santa Barbara in 1786, the Chumash were beginning to indulge in European trade and connections.  Due to overcrowding in missions, the Chumash were nearly wiped out by epidemics such as the measles epidemic in 1806. [9]

            The political structure of the Chumash is often referred to as consisting of chiefdoms.  They also were connected through confederations of allied villages.  They did not participate in much warfare outside of the confederations. They had two leaders; a hereditary chief called the wot, and a ceremonial leader called the paxa.  These positions were very often handed down from father to son in a hereditary fashion.[10]  The Chumash had a monetary system in place using particularly the Olivella shell as money.  They controlled much of the money supply in Southern California, leaving them quite wealthy compared to the other Indian groups in the area.[11]

            Today the Chumash are very interested in politics as well as in preserving the environment around the Santa Barbara area.  Santa Ynez is the only federally recognized tribe of the Chumash, although there are still many more active tribes.[12]  They were named the top climate change fighter by Indian Country Today in October 2013 for their efforts at building efficiency and alternative energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as by the New Times Sun in.[13]  They were highlighted for their use of energy efficient exhaust fans, solar panels, reusing vegetable oils as fuel, and many other great environmental efforts at the Chumash Casino Resost.  The Barbareno Chumash Council are responsible for annual channel crossing events to help preserve heritage by using traditional tomols, or canoes.  During the channel crossing, they create a village on the island and host activities to remind the group of their culture, both for adults and children.[14]  They host Coastal Cleanup Day, take interest in sustaining culturally significant plants, and take part in many other environmental efforts in Southern California.[15]  They also make a great effort to get the younger generation involved through youth camps and various internships, particularly through The Santa Ynez Chumash Environmental Office, a very active group associated with the reservation that takes great care of the environment and issues surrounding it.[16]  By getting the youth involved in taking care of the environment through many events and opportunities, the Chumash are making sure they keep their culture and community alive, while also caring for the land they hold so dear.  

They have a constitution similar to that of the United States.  They compare themselves to a corporation, although they are a sovereign government.  They hold tribal membership votes to decide major tribal issues to help the betterment of the group.  They are a democracy where motions are made, seconded, and ballots are mailed out to all members who are highly encouraged to vote.  They also conduct elections every two year in order to choose the Business Committee members and Tribal Chairman.[17]

            These elected positions are non-paid; they simply serve on behalf of the tribe.  The tribal voting age is 21 and there are 154 enrolled members in the tribe.  The current Tribal Chairman is Vincent Armenta, Vice Chairman is Richard Gomez, the Secretary/Treasurer is Kenneth Kahn, and David Dominguez and Gary Pace are Business Committee members.[18]  They have an Elders Council of those aged 50 years and older.  The Elders are responsible for protecting and preserving the cultural resources of the tribe.  They have seven leading members who are specifically called upon to maintain the tribe’s heritage, traditions, and history.  This Elders Council deals with artifacts, human remains, archaeology, and many other issues the tribe constantly faces.[19]  They seem to have frequent tribal meetings; however their website meeting date list has not been updated since 2011.[20]

            In 2012 and again in September 2013, the Chumash opposed seismic testing off the coast of California for fear of endangering marine life, not to mention sacred cultural sites.[21]  Their attempts at deflecting these tests were not successful.   They attend the West Coast Governors Alliance on Ocean Health along with many Indians from Washington, Oregon, and California to discuss environmental issues impacting the West coast and what efforts should be made to correct the wrongdoings that have come about in their lands.[22]  Even this meeting of US governors find particular interest in the Indians who live along the West coast.[23]  Down to the core, the Chumash are extremely concerned with their environment and strive to conserve their resources.

            The Chumash Indians of Southern California have a long and rich history as some of the very first Indians to inhabit North America.  They take pride in their heritage and work effectively to help the younger generation become knowledgeable about their culture.  They also take great strides to protect the environment, realizing that is what sustained their people for thousands of years before Europeans arrived and changed everything.  They work together with other groups to fight for the marine life and other cultural aspects that are so meaningful to their culture, having been acknowledged by many as truly having some of the best environmental practices towards preservation of the coastal lands.  The Chumash are a bold people who take pride in their ancestral land.

           

Bibliography



Barbareno Chumash Council. http://www.barbarenochumashcouncil.com/ (accessed November 11, 2013).



Northern Chumash Tribal Council. http://northernchumash.wordpress.com/ (accessed November 11, 2013).



Schertow, John Anhi. "Chumash Indians Speak Out Against Seismic Testing Off California Coast." IC Magazine. http://intercontinentalcry.org/chumash-nation-speak-out-against-seismic-testing-off-california-coast/ (accessed November 11, 2013).



Sutton, Mark Q. An Introduction to Native North America. Boston: Pearson, 2012.



Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. http://www.santaynezchumash.org/government.html (accessed November 11, 2013).



"Santa Ynez Chumash Environmental Office." http://syceo.org/ (accessed November 21, 2013).



West Coast Governors Alliance on Ocean Health. http://www.westcoastoceans.org/ (accessed November 11, 2013).






[1] Mark Q. Sutton, 181.


[2] Ibid., 183.


[3] Mark Q. Sutton, 181.


[4] Ibid., 188.


[5] Ibid.,, 183.


[6] Ibid., 182.


[7] Ibid., 183.


[8] Ibid., 188.


[9] Mark Q. Sutton, 183.


[10] Ibid., 184.


[11] Ibid., 185.


[12] Ibid.,, 188.


[13] "Santa Ynez Chumash Environmental Office."


[14] Barbareno Chumash Council.


[15] "Santa Ynez Chumash Environmental Office Blog”


[16] "Santa Ynez Chumash Environmental Office."


[17] "Tribal Government." Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.


[18] “Business Committee.” Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.


[19] “Elders Council.” Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.


[20] “Office of Indian Affairs” Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.


[21] Schertow, John Anhi. "Chumash Indians Speak Out Against Seismic Testing Off California Coast."


[22] Northern Chumash Tribal Council.


[23] West Coast Governors Alliance on Ocean Health.