Mechoopda facts for kids
19th century photograph of Mechoopda women and children
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 413 enrolled members | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 California |
|
| Languages | |
| English, Konkow | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, traditional tribal religions | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Maidu people |
The Mechoopda are a Native American tribe from California. They are part of the larger Maidu people group. Their official name is the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria. This means the United States government officially recognizes them as a tribe.
For a long time, the Mechoopda people spoke the Konkow language. This language is similar to other Maidu languages. In 2010, the tribe started making digital lessons to help people learn Konkow. They used old recordings from the 1940s by Emma Cooper. Their main village used to be about 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles) south of where Chico, California is today.
In 1967, the tribe lost its official status. They also lost their 26-acre land, called the Chico Rancheria. Today, about half of this old land belongs to California State University, Chico (CSUC). The university uses this 11-acre part for students studying farming, human cultures, and ancient history. The Mechoopda tribe officially got their federal recognition back in 1992.
The Mechoopda Tribe's Land
The Chico Ranchería is a special area of land set aside for the tribe. It is located in Butte County, California. The tribe has about 560 members in total. Around 70 people live on the ranchería itself. The city of Chico is the closest town to this land.
