Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono Indians of California facts for kids
The Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono Indians of California is a recognized Native American tribe. They are part of the Mono group. Their home is the Cold Springs Rancheria reservation, located in Fresno County, California. In 2010, about 184 people lived there.
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Mono Indian Culture
The Cold Springs tribe belongs to the Western Mono Indians. Their traditional lands are in the southern Sierra Nevada foothills of California. They speak the Mono language, which is part of the Uto-Aztecan language family. A very important traditional food for them is Acorns. Their history and stories are passed down through Mono traditional narratives.
How the Tribe is Governed
The Cold Springs Rancheria has its own government. They approved their current rules, called a tribal constitution, in 1970 and updated it in 2001.
The Tribal Council
The tribe is led by a Tribal Council. Members of the council are chosen by the tribe in a democratic election. The council includes a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, a Secretary-Treasurer, and three other Council Members.
The General Council
All tribal members who are 18 years old or older also form a voting group called the General Council. This means many tribal members have a say in important decisions.
Becoming a Tribal Member
To become a member of the Cold Springs Rancheria, you must be listed on the 1960 Plan for Distribution of Assets of the Cold Springs Rancheria records. You also need to be a direct descendant of someone on that list. Additionally, you must have a certain amount of California Indian heritage. Around 159 to 193 people live on the Cold Springs Rancheria. The tribe has about 265 to 275 enrolled members in total.
The Cold Springs Reservation
The Cold Springs Rancheria covers about 155 acres (0.63 square kilometers). It is located in Sycamore Valley, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of Fresno, California. The tribe's main office is close by, in Tollhouse, California.
Other Mono Tribes
There are other federally recognized Mono tribes. These include the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, the Big Sandy Rancheria of Mono Indians of California, the Northfork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California, and the Big Pine Band of Owens Valley Paiute Shoshone Indians of the Big Pine Reservation.
Education
The schools for the ranchería are part of the Sierra Unified School District.
