CHUMASH

THE CHUMASH INDIANS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 75 TO 100 HUNTING AND FISHING AND GATHERING VILLAGES. THEY SPOKE EIGHT RELATED LANGUAGES AND THERE WERE 20 TO 30 THOUSAND CHUMASH WHEN THE SPANISH ARRIVED. THEIR VILLAGES WERE ALL POLITICALLY INDEPENDENT AND WERE CONCENTRATED IN 3 REGIONS THAT WERE SPREAD OVER ABOUT 7000 MILES.

COASTAL CHUMASH WERE ON THE SHORELINE OF 250 MILES OF SHORE LINE. THEIR ANCESTORS WERE CALLED THE MILLING STONE CHUMASH CULTURE. THEIR SACRED PEAK WAS 8,800' HIGH, MOUNT PINOS, JUST EAST OF SANTA BARBARA. THEY HAD INTERIOR SETTLEMENTS LOCATED 75 MILES INTO THE MOUNTAINS OF THE COUNTY.

THEY HAD A VERY COMPLEX HUNTING AND GATHERING SOCIETY WITH A CHIEF ASSIGNED TO EVERY VILLAGE. THEY MADE SURE CERTAIN SUPPLIES WERE SET ASIDE. FOR RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL FESTIVALS, A VILLAGE HAD ABOUT 15-50 TULE THATCHED HOUSES ALIGNED ALONG A STREET. INSIDE THE HOUSES WERE WOVEN MATS, FUR LIKE BLANKETS, AND HARDWOOD BOWLS, SOAPSTONE PIPES AND DECORATED SHELL BEADS.

THEY DAILY USED A TEMASCAL, A MUD COVERED DOME SHAPED SWEAT BATH THAT THE CHUMASH USE DAILY. THEY ALSO HAD A GRANERY FOR KEEPING FOODS FOR DISTRIBUTING TO NEEDY PEOPLE. THEY ARE MATRILINEAL SO THE MARRIED WOMEN COME FROM OTHER VILLAGES PRODUCING KINSHIP CONNECTIONS ACROSS VILLAGE LINES.

THEY HAD CRAFTSMEN, ASTROLOGERS, CHIEFS, AND PRIESTS. A KEY OFFICIAL OVERSAW THE ACORN HARVEST FESTIVAL - WHICH IN CALIFORNIA WAS REFEREED TO AS "BIG TIME". THEIR SHAMAN MEDIATED BETWEEN THE SICK, INTERPRETED DREAMS, AND GUIDED VISION SEEKERS TO MAKE CONNECTION WITH THEIR SPIRIT HELPERS. THEIR ROCK ART WAS UTILIZED DURING THESE MEDIATIONS.

THEIR PICTOGRAPH ROCK PAINTINGS WERE BOTH ASTRONOMICAL LOOKING AND ALSO FEATURED ANIMAL LIKE BEINGS, FISH, BIRDS AND GEOMETRICAL DESIGNS. THEY WERE LOCATED NEAR FRESH WATER. THEIR ROCK ART IS A VERY SPECIAL HEALING TOOL USING PULVERIZED COLORED ROCKS PRODUCING RED, WHITE, BLUE GREEN, GREY, BROWN AND BLACK COLORS.

THEIR FISHERMEN CAUGHT A VARIETY OF FISH, SEALS, AND SEAL OTTERS, USING NETS AND TRAPS, BASKETS AND PLANT POISONS, TO STUN THE FISH. THEY COLLECTED VARIOUS SHELL FISH THE INLAND VILLAGES HUNTED SMALL ANIMALS, DEER, BEAR, AND MOUNTAIN LIONS. THEIR STAPLE WAS LIKE MOST CALIFORNIAN INDIANS - ACORNS. THEIR WOMEN WOVE BASKETS USING COILING, TWINING, AND WICKER WORK.

THE FIRST EUROPEAN TO MEET THE CHUMASH WAS JUAN CABRILLO IN 1542. IN THE 1770'S CATHOLIC MISSIONS WERE ESTABLISHED. TODAY THEY HAVE THEIR OWN CHUMASH COUNCIL AND THEIR POPULATION IS STEADILY INCREASING TO ABOUT 5000 PEOPLE.


.

FREDERICK HOXIE