Mattole facts for kids
Mattole River in Humbodlt County
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| Regions with significant populations | |
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 United States ( California) |
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| English, historically Mattole |
The Mattole people, also known as the Bear River Indians, are a group of Native Americans who live in California. Their traditional home is along the Mattole and Bear Rivers in Humboldt County, California. This area is close to Cape Mendocino.
One special thing about the Mattole is that their men traditionally had tattoos on their foreheads. In many other local Native American groups, only women had facial tattoos.
Contents
What's in a Name?
Other tribes had different names for the Mattole. The Wailaki people called them Tul'bush, which means 'foreigners'. The Cahto people called them Diideeʾ-kiiyaahaangn, meaning 'The North Tribe'.
The Mattole and Bear River Indians called themselves Ni'ekeni.
The Mattole Language
The Mattole people spoke the Mattole language. This language is part of the Athapaskan family. It might have been similar to the language spoken by their neighbors, the Eel River people.
Sadly, the last person who could speak the Mattole language passed away in the 1950s.
Where the Mattole Lived
Historically, the Mattole people lived along the Mattole River. This was in a valley in Humboldt County, in northwestern California. They lived in this area for several centuries.
However, scientists have found evidence that many Native American tribes have lived on this land for over 6,000 years. Early records suggest the Mattole were in the region of the Bear River tribe by the 1500s. From the mid-1500s to the 1800s, the Mattole lived near the coast, where the river meets the ocean.
The Mattole people only stayed in one specific area during the winter months. For most of the year, they traveled in small family groups. They moved to find food and better weather conditions. This was easy to do in California because it has many different climates close together.
Some of the traditional villages of the Bear River people included Tcalko', Chilsheck, Chilenche, Selsche'ech, Tlanko, Estakana, and Sehtla.
Mattole Way of Life
The main food source for the Mattole people was always salmon. Salmon was plentiful in the Mattole River, which was close to where they lived. This meant the Mattole did not need to travel far from the river to find food.
From the 1500s, when the tribe arrived in what is now Humboldt County, Mattole villages were groups of families living close together during the winter. But for most of the year, Mattole families traveled on their own. They moved to places where food was easier to find or where the weather was better.
As the weather got warmer in the Mattole Valley, families would separate. They would focus more on gathering plants and less on hunting, which they did more in colder months. The family unit was very important in Mattole society.
Leaders and Decisions
Tribes chose their leaders based on their wealth and their ability to solve problems. These leaders, later called "chiefs," were not like kings. Instead, they led a type of democracy. They would suggest ideas, and the rest of the tribe would discuss and vote on them.
Respecting the Water
The Mattole people had special rules about how to act around water, like waves or streams. They believed that water watched you and had feelings about you.
For example, you should not speak just before a wave breaks. You also should not talk to rough water in a stream. It was also important not to stare at water for too long, unless you had been to that spot many times. If the water knew you, it wouldn't mind you looking at it. Older men could talk near the water because they had been around for so long that the water knew them. If the water at a spot didn't know you, it might become very rough if you talked or looked at it for too long.
History with Settlers
In the mid to late 1800s, there was a lot of tension between white settlers and Native Americans. In 1856, the Mendocino reservation was created for Native American tribes. It stretched from Mendocino County to the Bear River.
When white settlers started building homes in the Mattole Valley in 1857, there was much conflict with the Native American tribes. The settlers argued that the reservation was taking land that should not be theirs. The Mattole felt threatened because settlers were moving into their area and taking their women. Both sides, white settlers and Native American tribes, including the Mattole, were fighting each other. Many Mattole and other Native Americans were held in prison camps.
On September 4, 1858, in the middle of all the fighting, the Mattole Valley Treaty of Peace was signed. This treaty aimed to keep peace between the groups. However, it became useless in 1859 when the reservation was no longer considered a reservation. More white settlers then moved into the area.
Population Changes
It's hard to know exactly how many Native Americans lived in California before Europeans arrived. One expert, Alfred L. Kroeber, estimated that about 500 Mattole people lived in the area in 1770. Another expert, Martin A. Baumhoff, estimated the Mattole-Bear River population was around 2,476.
In the 2000 census, the Mattole federal reservation, called the Rohnerville Rancheria, reported a population of 29 people. This reservation is located south of Eureka.
The most recent US Census Bureau count in 2010 showed that there were 14 members.
The Tribe Today
The Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria is now a federally recognized tribe. This means the United States government officially recognizes them as a Native American tribe. The tribe includes Mattole River, Eel River (Wailaki), Bear River, and Wiyot People. It is located in Humboldt County, California.
Today, the Bear River Band has 525 enrolled tribal citizens. To become a member, you must be a direct descendant of someone from the tribe and live on the rancheria. The tribe is led by a Tribal Council, which has seven members. These members are elected for four-year terms. The current Chairman is William Sand, and the current Vice Chairman is Dakota McGinnis.
The tribe publishes a newspaper called the Bear River Bulletin for its members. They also provide many services to help their members, such as social services, housing, and economic development. They even have a daycare! The tribe also runs the Bear River Casino in Loleta.
The Bear River Band works hard to protect their cultural resources and their traditional lands. Their Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) creates plans to protect the tribe's history. These plans focus on the importance of oral traditions (stories passed down by word of mouth). They also involve talking with tribal elders and spiritual leaders who have special knowledge of the tribe's traditions. The tribe also works to protect "traditional cultural properties." These are places important to the community's history, beliefs, and practices.
