Karkin people facts for kids
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
 United States ( California) |
|
| Languages | |
| Karkin, English | |
| Religion | |
| Traditional tribal religion |
The Karkin people (also called Los Carquines in Spanish) are one of eight Ohlone peoples. The Ohlone are Native American groups who have lived in California for a very long time.
Contents
Who Are the Karkin People?
The Karkin people have historically lived near the Carquinez Strait. This area is in the northeast part of the San Francisco Bay estuary. An estuary is where a river meets the sea.
The Karkin Language
The Karkin people spoke the Karkin language. We know about this language from a single vocabulary list. A linguist and missionary named Felipe Arroyo de la Cuesta wrote it down in 1821. He got the words from a Karkin speaker named Mariano Antonio Sagnegse.
According to de la Cuesta, the word karkin means 'to trade'. Even with limited records, we know the Karkin language was very different. It was a unique branch of the Costanoan/Ohlone language family. It was quite different from nearby languages like Chochenyo. Before European settlers arrived, about 200 people spoke Karkin.
Karkin History and Missions
Starting in 1787, some Karkin people began to move. They went to Mission Dolores in what is now San Francisco.
Resistance and Life at the Missions
In 1804 and 1807, the Karkin people showed resistance. They resisted efforts by other Mission Indians to bring back people who had left the mission. The last Karkins moved to the mission between 1809 and 1810.
By the end of 1817, 49 Karkin people lived at Mission Dolores. By the end of 1823, 35 Karkin people lived across three missions. These were Mission Dolores, Mission San Francisco Solano, and Mission San Jose. Seven of these people had been born at the missions.
Karkin People Today
Today, the Confederated Villages of Lisjan is an important group. It is a tribe made up of Karkin people and six other nearby Native American groups.
Notable Karkin Leaders
Corrina Gould is a well-known Karkin and Chochenyo activist. She helped start two important organizations. These are Indian People Organizing for Change and the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust. She is also a spokesperson for the Confederated Villages of Lisjan.
fr:Karkin hr:Karkin pms:Lenga karkin
