Karuk Tribe facts for kids
Tribal Flag
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Karuk language distribution
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| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 4,800 enrolled members | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( California) |
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| Languages | |
| English, Karuk | |
| Religion | |
| traditional tribal religion, Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Karuk people |
The Karuk Tribe is a Native American tribe. It is officially recognized by the United States government. The Karuk people are one of the original peoples of California. Their traditional lands are in the northwestern part of the state. These lands are mainly in Humboldt and Siskiyou counties. The Karuk Tribe is one of the biggest Native American tribes in California.
The Karuk Tribe acts like its own government. It runs many programs for its people. These programs help with social, cultural, and economic needs. Because they manage these programs well, they are called a "Self-Governance Tribe." The tribal government employs over 100 people. They work in areas like health, housing, and education.
In just over ten years, the Karuk Tribe has built many important facilities. They have housing divisions and health clinics. They also have Head Start programs. These are in Orleans, Happy Camp, and Yreka. These are the three main places where Karuk people live. The tribe also helps with salmon fishing projects. They have bought and grown a retail business. They also help local people start their own small businesses.
Karuk Tribal Lands
The Karuk people do not have one large reservation. Instead, they have many small pieces of land. Some of these lands are held in trust by the federal government. Other pieces are owned directly by the tribe. These small lands are not connected to each other. They are mostly found along the Klamath River. This area is in western Siskiyou County and northeastern Humboldt County in California.
All these land pieces together cover about 2.9 square kilometers (1.1 square miles). In 2020, about 498 people lived on these tribal lands. There are also some tribal lands within the city of Yreka.
Karuk Language and Culture
The Karuk people speak the Karuk language. This language is part of the Hokan language family. The tribe has a strong program to keep their language alive. In 2015, there were fewer than twelve people who spoke Karuk fluently. This means Karuk is a very endangered language. It is also known as Karok, Quoratem, Charoc, and Quoratean.
Many recordings and writings about the language have been saved. They are kept at the University of California, Berkeley. This helps future generations learn and use the language. The special code for the Karuk language is kyh.
The People's Center in Happy Camp is a special place for the tribe. It is their museum and cultural center. The building is 5,000 square feet. It has a changing art gallery and a museum shop. There is also a classroom, a library, and an office for the language program. It also stores important historical items and collections.
Karuk Tribal Businesses
The Karuk Tribe runs the Rain Rock Casino. This casino is located in Yreka, California.
The tribe also owns an Internet service provider. It is called Áan Chúuphan, which means "talking line." This company installed fiber optic cable. This brought Internet and cell service to Orleans, a tribal center. As of 2018, many people in the area still relied on satellite internet.
