The Chumash people are indigenous to the central and southern coastal regions of California. Archaeological research has shown that the Chumash have deep historical roots and have lived on the southern California coast for thousands of years. They lived in portions of what is now San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties and three of the Channel Islands - Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and San Miguel.

The Chumash were a highly intelligent and developed people. They were a prosperous and peaceable people.

According to different scholars, the population of the Chumash in these areas numbered anywhere from 10,00 to 20,00 and possibly higher. It is believed by some of these scholars that the population declined substantially during the period of AD 1542 through 1769, when occasional contact with the Spanish brought death from disease. In the late 18th century, the Chumash appeared to have been thriving at the time Spaniards began colonizing the California coastal areas, but were nearly wiped out when the Spanish mission system began to develope. With this near decimation, many of the legends, myths and stories that were orally handed down for generations were lost to history.

Archaeological research has shown that the culture of these peoples was very sophisticated as early as the period between 6500 to 1500 BC. The Chumash, it was found, regularly navigated the ocean when few other peoples did. They built plank boats, tomols, for whaling and to transport goods to and from other villages. The Chumash were hunters-gatherers and great fishermen.

The Chumash of today conduct channel crossings for sacred gatherings to commemorate the ways of their ancestors. The crews of the tomols leave from Channel Island Harbor in Oxnard and paddle to Scorpion Bay in Santa Cruz. This voyage is about an eight hour ordeal and is very much a part of the spiritual ways of the People.

The Chumash were excellent basket weavers and their basketry was actively sought after by anthropologists. The Smithsonian Institution has two of the finest collections of these baskets. The Museum of Natural History at Santa Barbara, California, has what is believed to be the largest collection of Chumash baskets. They also made excellent stoneware for cooking.

Although there are no living people who speak the Chumash language, families of the people are striving to revitalize the language and the dialects of the different tribes.

The tribes of the Northern Channel Islands were heavily involved in trade, since this was a region of intense trade. The Chumash used beads they made from olivella shells as currency. They thrived because they had plenty of resources from both land and sea.

The Chumash lived in homes they built that very much resembled their baskets, turned upside down. These dome shaped houses were made from willow branches, using whalebone for reinforcement. The roofs were made from tulle mats and the rooms inside had partitions made from hanging reed mats. Up to fifty people could live in one house. The beds were platforms above the ground, with personal storage space under each.

Each village had their own shaman who was also an astrologer who could chart the heavens and interpret the signs to guide their people. Women, as well as men, could serve as chiefs and priests. The chieftains were called wots. The dolphin was a sacred symbol for the Chumash.

Caves, found in the rolling hills of the coastline, served as places of sacred religious ceremonies. Some of these caves can still be seen today with their charcoal drawings. It is still possible to see the remains of their developed culture and some rock paintings. The Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park, south of the San Marcos Pass outside Santa Barbara, California, contains these wonderful sites. The drawings on the rock date back to the 1600's. See the related link below for directions and more information.
*******

For your convenience:

, , ,