| Total population |
|---|
| 1,800[1][2] |
| Regions with significant populations |
| United States ( California) |
| Languages |
| Religion |
|
traditional tribal religion |
| Related ethnic groups |
The Pit River Tribe is a federally recognized tribe of eleven bands of indigenous peoples of California. They primarily live along the Pit River in the northeast corner of California.[1] Their name also is spelled as "Pitt River" in historical records.
Contents |
The eleven bands are as follows:
The eleven bands of the Pit River Tribe speak the closely related languages: Achumawi and Atsugewi. These are both Palaihnihan languages, believed to belong to the Hokan language family.[1]
The Pit River Tribe controls six rancherias. They are:
The tribe also owns trust lands in Lake County, California, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, and Shasta Counties.[5]
The tribe conducts business from Burney, California.[1] They were officially recognized as a tribe in 1976 and ratified their constitution in 1987. Each of the eleven bands is represented in the tribal council.[4]
On August, 1964, a Constitution was formally adopted by the Pit River Tribe. The Preamble states:
"... for the purpose of securing our Rights and Powers inherent in our Sovereign status as reinforced by the laws of the United States, developing and protecting Pit River (Ajumawi - Atsugewi) ancestral lands and all other resources, preserving peace and order in our community, promoting the general welfare of our people and our descendants, protecting the rights of the Tribe and of our members, and preserving our land base, culture and identity,..."[6]
While the Pit River group originally filed a separate land claims, after the Indian Claims Commission was created in 1946, the Pit River tribe was encouraged in 1963 to participate in the larger claims—Indians of California vs U. S. – but ultimately there was disharmony within the tribe and they rejected their monetary award.[7]