Chumash

The Chumash are a Native American people of the central and southern California coast and the northern Channel Islands. Traditional territory stretched along the coast from Malibu in the north to areas of present-day Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties in the south and included the Channel Islands of Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and Santa Catalina. They lived in a network of villages tied to coastal and inland resources and were renowned for their maritime skills and long-distance trade.

The Chumash spoke several related languages in the Chumashan family, including Barbareño, Ventureño, Ineseño, and Obispeño. While many of these languages are now endangered, revitalization efforts continue. Their material culture featured plank canoes, or tomols, used to travel between villages and across the Channel Islands, as well as sophisticated basketry, beadwork, and storage. Settlements were organized around seasonal rounds emphasizing acorns, fish, shellfish, and plants.

Spanish exploration and missionization began in the late 18th century, with Mission Santa Barbara and other establishments playing central roles in Chumash life. The mission era brought disease, displacement, and forced labor, and many Chumash people joined the 1824 revolt at Mission Santa Inés. After secularization in the 1830s, land holdings were altered and population declined due to disease and conflict.

Today, the Chumash are recognized as a distinct Indigenous people with several federally recognized tribes, including the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. Communities pursue cultural preservation, language work, and economic development, including the Santa Ynez Chumash Casino Resort and cultural centers that educate the public about Chumash history.