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Timeline
Approx. 10,000 Years Ago: Paleo-Indians arrive in Southwest United States from Asia via Bering Strait Bridge.
1542 Juan Cabrillo explored the California coast.
1769 Father Serra founds the first Californian mission in San Diego. There were about 310,000 Native Americans in California.
1820 Mexico declared independence from Spain and California became a territory of Mexico.
1834 Mexico secularized and/or dismantled the missions. The Native Americans were dispersed to urban areas where they were cheap labor or worked on the ranchos.
1846 The United States declared war on Mexico. Often known as the Mexican-American War.
1848 The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, making California an American territory.
1849 The Gold Rush begins. Native Americans were treated as hostiles by the Forty-niners and actively mistreated and killed.
1850 California became a state.
1850 Californian state legislature passed an act to allow indenturing of the Native Americans.
1852 The Californian Indian Service was established to start the reservation system. Several tribes such as the Hupa and Modocs resisted and fought to keep their land with varying amount of success.
1870's Ghost Dance religious movement attracts many Native Americans.
1880's Boarding schools established. Native Americans saw this as an attack on their language and society.
1900 There were around 20,000 Native Americans left, a 90% drop from when the missionaries arrived.
1924 All Native Americans born in the United States were granted citizenship.
1964 The American Indian Historical Society was started. They advocated better conditions and tried to change textbooks in California to give a clearer and less distorted account of their Native American history.
1969 The Indians of All Tribes occupied Alcatraz Island for two years to protest Native American treatment.
Information is from The First Americans: California Indians by C.L. Keyworth, c1991.
General Information on Native American Tribes of California
A short general introduction to the California Native American Tribes. Designed for teachers and students as a guide to some of the most used sources available from San Diego Public Library. This project is partially funded by a Library Services and Technology Act Grant.
Picture courtesy of Barona Cultural Center and Museum
Research resources
Databases and Internet
- Barona Cultural Center and Museum
- California Fact CardsThis library subscription resource includes fact cards on the Missions and Mission Life
- California Indian Education
- Kumeyaay Information Village Website
- Native Americans
- Native Americans of California
- Santa Ysabel Tribal Library
Series
- California Native American Tribes Series - Mary Null Boule
Call Number: J979.4/BOULE
Written about grade 4-5 level. This series features all the Native American tribes in California, in small pamphlet-type format. Each tribe is a separate pamphlet, written just for students. - First Americans Series - Various
Call Number: J979.40049 or J973.04975
About grade 3-4 level. A good basic description of the various tribes, and also has some arts and crafts projects. - The Library of Native Americans - Williams, Jack
Written about grade 5 level. Examines individual tribes: their origin, archeological and legendary; food, clothing, and some arts and crafts and trade as well as government, warfare, language and religion. A history is given, including current lives. - Lifeways - Bial, Raymond
Written about a grade 5-6 level. History, culture and everyday life of the tribe. Includes a timeline and information about famous representatives of the tribe. - Native Americans series - Gray-Kanatiiosh, Barbara
Call Number: J979.40049/GRAY
Written by a Native American at about the grade 4 level. It concentrates on their daily life, clothing, home, society, food, crafts as well as including one myth. - Native Peoples - Various
Written about a grade 3-4 reading level. Includes a map locating the tribe, Fast Facts, history, a famous representative of the tribe, a legend, religion, clothing, etc. Includes a step by step art project for the kids to do. There are also addresses, both on and off-line. - Tribes of Native America - Ryan, Marla Felkins
Written about a late grade 4-5 level. Covers basic facts, called First Look, history, daily life, customs and notable people. Also includes a timeline. Sometimes a legend is included.
Short selection of introductory books on Native American Tribes
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