Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria facts for kids
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Kashia Old Roundhouse in March 2012.
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| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 86+ | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( California) |
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| Languages | |
| English, Kashaya Pomo | |
| Religion | |
| Roundhouse religion, Christianity, Kuksu | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Pomo tribes |
The Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria is a Native American tribe. They are officially recognized by the United States government. This tribe is part of the larger Pomo people group. They live in Sonoma County, California. People also call them the Kashaya Pomo.
Their special land, called the Stewarts Point Rancheria, is in Stewarts Point. This area is in the northwest part of Sonoma County. In 2010, about 78 people lived on this land.
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Stewarts Point Rancheria
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|---|---|
Location of Stewarts Point Rancheria
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Sonoma |
| Elevation | 13 ft (4 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 78 |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
95480
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| Area code(s) | 707 |
Contents
The Stewarts Point Rancheria
The Kashia Band's special land is called the Stewarts Point Rancheria. It is located along Skaggs Springs Road. This area is in the countryside of northern Sonoma County. The rancheria covers about 550 acres. In 2010, 78 people lived there.
Most residents, 72 out of 78, are Native American. Three other residents are Native American and also another background. The rancheria has its own elementary school. It also has a community center with a tribal office. There are two special ceremonial buildings called Round Houses.
The tribe has offices in two places. One is in Santa Rosa. The other is on the Stewarts Point Rancheria itself. The closest town is Sea Ranch. It is located along the Pacific coast.
Kashaya History and Culture
The Kashaya people have always lived in their traditional lands. These lands are near what is now Fort Ross. Their own name for themselves means "Person who belongs on the land." It can also mean "People From the Top of the Land." Another meaning for "Kashaya" is "expert gamblers."
When Russians came to Kashaya lands, they asked the tribe to work for them. However, the Russians did not break up the tribe. They also did not force them to change their religion.
Essie Parrish (1902–1979) was a very important Kashia leader. She was a skilled basket weaver. She was also a spiritual leader for the Kashia Tribe. Essie Parrish worked hard to keep Pomo traditions alive.
Lorin Smith, born in 1935, is the current spiritual leader. He is a Kashaya Pomo elder and a medicine man. Lorin has welcomed non-Native people to visit the Round House. He also lets them take part in ceremonies.
Who Lives on the Rancheria?
The Stewarts Point Rancheria has 78 residents. Most of the people, 92.3%, are Native American. A small number are white (2.3%) or Asian (1.3%). About 3.8% of residents are of two or more backgrounds.
Some residents, 14.1%, are Hispanic or Latino. This includes people of Mexican (10.3%) and Puerto Rican (2.6%) heritage. There are 20 homes on the rancheria.
Kashaya Language
The tribe traditionally speaks the Kashaya language. It is also known as Southwestern Pomo. This language belongs to the Pomoan language family. This family of languages is found in Northern California.
A few dozen elders still speak the Kashaya language. Younger people are now learning it. They are working to keep the language alive for future generations.
Returning Tribal Land
In October 2015, a big step happened for the Kashia Band. Some landowners sold 688 acres of land. They sold it to The Trust for Public Land. This land became the Kashia Coastal Reserve.
This reserve gave the Kashia Band access to the Pacific coast again. They had been forced to an inland reservation about 150 years earlier. The land has thick redwood forests and tall coastal cliffs. It also has waterfalls along the Pacific Coast Highway.
The Kashia Tribe will manage this land. They will keep it as protected open space. They will also have a special forest to teach people. This forest will help educate the public about the history of Native people in the area. The Kashia will also allow the California Coastal Trail to go through their land. This means the public can visit parts of it.
Money for the Kashia Coastal Reserve came from many places. It took five years to raise the funds. The Sonoma County government, The Trust for Public Land, and other groups helped.
Education for Kashia Youth
The children on the ranchería attend local schools. They are served by the Kashia Elementary School District. For high school, students go to the Point Arena Joint Union High School District.
