Chimariko people facts for kids
 range of Chimariko language
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| extinct | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Northwest California | |
| Languages | |
| formerly Chimariko | |
| Religion | |
| traditional tribal religion |
The Chimariko were a group of Native American people who lived in what is now northwestern California. Their name in their own language meant "person" or "Indian." They originally lived along a 20-mile stretch of the Trinity River in Trinity County.
History of the Chimariko People
The Chimariko people were likely some of the first groups to live in their area. They were hunter-gatherers, meaning they found their food by hunting animals and gathering plants.
The Chimariko had friendly relationships with the Wintu people. However, they were sometimes in conflict with the Hupa, another Native American group.
In the 1820s, fur trappers from outside the region first came into Chimariko lands. Later, in the 1850s, many miners and settlers arrived. This was during the California Gold Rush, which started in 1848. The search for gold caused big problems for the Chimariko. For example, the miners' activities harmed the salmon population. Salmon was a very important food source for the Chimariko.
By the 1860s, fighting between the Chimariko and white miners led to a huge drop in the Chimariko population. The few Chimariko who survived went to live with other groups. These included the Hoopa Valley Hupa and the Tsnungwe people.
The Chimariko Language
The Chimariko people spoke the Chimariko language. This language is part of a larger group called the Northern Hokan languages. Sadly, the Chimariko language is now extinct, meaning no one speaks it as their native language today.
The language likely died out around the 1930s. A researcher named John Peabody Harrington studied it in the 1920s. He wrote down many notes from the last speaker, a woman named Sally Noble. These notes help us learn about the language today.
Chimariko Population Over Time
It's hard to know exactly how many Chimariko people lived long ago. Experts have made different guesses for the population before Europeans arrived.
One estimate suggests there were about 250 Chimariko people in the late 1700s and early 1800s. By 1852, this number dropped to about 200. By 1880, only about 20 Chimariko people were left. By 1900, it was thought there were no Chimariko left.
However, some Chimariko people had gone to live with the Hupa and Shasta groups. Because of this, some descendants of the Chimariko are now learning about their heritage. In the 2010 census, 60 people said they had Chimariko ancestry.
