 Historical Chumash villages | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 2,000[1]–5,000[2] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Languages | |
| English • Spanish • formerly Chumashan languages | |
| Religion | |
| Traditional tribal religion, Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Barbareño, Ventureño, Ineseño, Purisimeño, Obispeño[3] |
The Chumash are a Native American people of the central and southern coastal regions of California, in portions of what is now Kern, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties, extending from Morro Bay in the north to Malibu in the south to Mt Pinos in the east. Their territory includes three of the Channel Islands: Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel; the smaller island of Anacapa was likely inhabited seasonally due to the lack of a consistent water source.[2][4] Historically, prior to the arrival of the Spanish, the names of the regions were called Obispeno, Purismeno, Cuyama, Emigdiano, Castaic, Ynezeno, Barbareno, Ventureno, San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and Anacapa. [5]
Modern place names with Chumash origins include Malibu, Nipomo, Lompoc, Ojai, Pismo Beach, Point Mugu, Port Hueneme, Piru, Lake Castaic, Saticoy, Simi Valley, and Somis. Archaeological research demonstrates that the Chumash people have deep roots in the Santa Barbara Channel area and lived along the southern California coast for millennia.
- ^ "California Indians and Their Reservations: P." SDSU Library and Information Access. Archived from the original on January 10, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ a b "Native Inhabitants". National Park Service. Archived from the original on May 22, 2007.
- ^ Pritzker, 121
- ^ "Chumash Indians on the Channel Islands". Sea•thos Foundation. Archived from the original on September 11, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
- ^ Bacich, Damian (May 3, 2019). "Native Americans of the California Coast: The Chumash - Early California Resource Center". Retrieved October 25, 2024.