Lakisamni facts for kids

The Lazar or Laquisimne (pronounced Lah-kee-SEEM-nay) are a group of Yokuts people. The Yokuts are Native Americans who have lived in California for a very long time. The Lakisamni lived near the Stanislaus River in the San Joaquin Valley.

Their land stretched from what is now Ripon in the west to Knights Ferry in the east. You can still find old mortar stones on rocks near the Stanislaus River in Knights Ferry. These stones show that the Lakisamni people once lived and prepared food there.

History of the Lakisamni People

The Lakisamni people lived next to the Miwok tribe called Tawalimnu. When Spanish explorers came to their land, the Lakisamni were not friendly. The Spanish explorers, like Gabriel Moraga, also treated the Lakisamni with hostility.

The Spanish named the Stanislaus River after the Lakisamni. They changed "Lakisamni" into the Spanish word "Laquisimes." This is how the river got its name.

Important Lakisamni Leaders

Two important leaders from the Lakisamni people are:

• Estanislao (born Cucunuchi) — He was a leader who fought against Spanish rule in Alta California.
• José Jesús (also known as Hozá Ha-sóos) — He became a leader after Estanislao.