Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria
|
The tribe's Bear River Casino in Loleta, California | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (96 rancheria population[1]) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( California) | |
| Languages | |
| English, historically Mattole and Wiyot | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Mattole and Wiyot people[2] |
The Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria is a federally recognized tribe of Mattole, Bear River and Wiyot people in Humboldt County, California.[3]
Government
The Bear River Band is headquartered in Loleta, California. Their current tribal chairperson is William Sand[2] Tribal enrollment is based on residency on the Rohnerville Rancheria from 1910 to 1960 or being a lineal descent of those residents.[4]
Reservation and traditional territories
The Rohnerville Rancheria is a federally recognized ranchería located in two separate parts. One (40°34′49″N 124°07′21″W / 40.58028°N 124.12250°W) is at the eastern edge of Fortuna, and the other (40°37′53″N 124°12′11″W / 40.63139°N 124.20306°W) to the southeast of Loleta, both in Humboldt County.
The tribe's traditional territory was along the Mattole and Bear Rivers near Cape Mendocino. Wiyot people lived along the Little River down to the Bear River and 25 miles eastward.[3]:154 The Mattole villages of Tcalko', Chilsheck, Selsche'ech, Tlanko, Estakana, and Sehtla were located along Bear River[2]
Economic development
The Bear River Band owns and operate the Bear River Casino-Hotel resort, River's Edge Restaurant, and the Thirsty Bear Sports Bar and Grill in Loleta, California.[5]
Traditional culture
Mattole people differ from neighboring tribes because men traditionally tattooed their faces, instead of just women. Mattole spoke the Mattole language, an Athapaskan language,[2] while Wiyots spoke the Wiyot language, an Algonquian language.[6] Subsistence practices that continue today for ceremonial purposes include salmon fishing and gathering salt, seaweed, and shells by hand.[7]
References
- ↑ "Population." SDSU: California Indians and Their Reservations. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 "Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria." United Indian Health Services. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
- 1 2 Pritzker, Barry M (2000). A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-513877-1.:155
- ↑ "Amended Constitution of the Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria.", retrieved June 25, 2012.
- ↑ "Bear River Casino." 500 Nations. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
- ↑ "Wiyot Indians." SDSU: California Indians and Their Reservations. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
- ↑ "Tribes and Tribal Communities of the North Coast." Integrating Tribal Marine Resource Use into the Marine Life Protection Act. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
External links
- Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria, official website
- Wiyot Tribe
- Mattole, Four Directions Institute
- Wiyot, Four Directions Institute
Coordinates: 40°34′49″N 124°07′22″W / 40.580198°N 124.122652°W