Pinoleville Pomo Nation facts for kids
Pat, a young Pomo girl at the grape harvest at Pinoleville Rancheria, 1938
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|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 280 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| United States (California) | |
| Languages | |
| English, Pomoan languages | |
| Religion | |
| Roundhouse religion, Christianity, Kuksu | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Pomo tribes |
The Pinoleville Pomo Nation is a special group of Pomo people who live in Mendocino County, California. They are a federally recognized tribe, which means the United States government officially sees them as a sovereign nation. Leona Williams is their current Tribal Chairperson, like a leader for their community.
Contents
History
The Pinoleville Pomo Nation is a smaller part of the larger Pomo Tribe in Northern California. Their original home was in Potter Valley, California. This area is about 18 miles (29 km) north-northeast of Ukiah, California. Today, the Pinoleville Pomo Nation lives near Ukiah.
Early Life
Before Europeans arrived, the Pomo people lived in three main villages in Potter Valley. These villages were called Pomo, Sedam (or Tse tum), and Canel (or Shanel, Sanel). There were also many smaller villages and camps. People from these villages stayed connected through marriages and special ceremonies. They were led by councilmen, who were sometimes called captains.
European Arrival
In the early 1800s, Spanish, Russian, and fur traders came to California. Their arrival was very hard for the Native Californians and their way of life. For many years, the Pomo people suffered. They were forced to leave their homes, many got sick from new diseases, and some were forced to work for the settlers.
A Difficult Time
Things got even harder in the mid-1800s when gold was discovered in California. Thousands of Europeans came to northern California hoping to get rich. The government tried to make treaties to give land to Native Californians, including the Pomo. But these treaties were never officially approved.
Because of this, the California government said that any land not claimed by settlers was public land. This meant that the land where the Pomo and other Native Californians lived could be settled by non-Native people. The Pomo were forced off their land as new settlers used it for ranching. The Pomo had to move to less fertile areas and struggled to find enough food to survive.
The Bloody Run
In 1871, a terrible event happened, known as "Ba-lay-Ba-lin" or "Bloody Run." Most of the Pomo people still living in Potter Valley were forced by soldiers to walk 65 miles north to the Round Valley Reservation. People say the Eel River ran red with blood for three days because so many died.
This story is not widely known, but Pinoleville Pomo Nation members have shared it. Their ancestors experienced this terrible event. One member said that "the white men herded all the Indians like cattle." If someone was too slow, they were shot and thrown into the river. Many young and old people were killed because they could not keep up. Those who survived were forced to walk to the reservation.
Buying Their Land Back
Between 1878 and 1893, a large group of Pomo people left the Round Valley Reservation. In 1878, they bought 51 acres of land on the north side of Ukiah. This land was known as ke-buk ke-bul, but soon became known as Pinoleville.
In 1893, the Pinoleville leaders joined with other Pomo leaders. They traded their land for 100 acres between Ackerman Creek and Orr Springs Road. This is where the Pinoleville Pomo people finally settled. The leaders allowed other Pomo families who had lost their homes to live in Pinoleville.
Pinoleville Rancheria
In 1905, a government survey said the land was too crowded. So, in 1911, more land was bought next to the original piece, thanks to the Homeless, Landless Indian Act. This new land became known as the Pinoleville Rancheria.
The status of the Pinoleville Rancheria changed in 1958. The U.S. government started policies to integrate Native American communities. In 1966, the Pinoleville Rancheria was officially ended by the government.
Fighting for Recognition
Even though their status was ended, the Pinoleville Pomo Nation fought back. In 1983, they became part of a big lawsuit called Tillie Hardwick v. US. This lawsuit was against the government for ending Indian Rancherias. Tillie Hardwick won the case. As a result, seventeen tribes that had been terminated, including Pinoleville, won official recognition from the U.S. government again.
Becoming Self-Governing
On June 26, 2005, the Pinoleville Pomo Nation created their own constitution. They elected seven officials to serve on their tribal council for four-year terms. In 2006, the Pinoleville Pomo Nation signed an agreement with the U.S. government. This agreement recognized them as a Self-Governance Tribe, meaning they have more control over their own affairs.
Culture
Homes and Shelters
In winter, the Pomo people built special homes called tca. These homes were shaped like half-domes. Their floors were dug about a foot into the ground. The walls were made of woven willow branches and covered with thick grass, reeds, or willow. These homes could house one to five families.
They also built small sweat houses called tca-ne. These were used for sweating, but also as meeting places or warm winter spots for men. The main villages had very large meeting houses, or roundhouses. Some of these were big enough to hold hundreds of people for ceremonies and dances. In the summer, people often used simple brush shelters.
Food and Hunting
The Pomo people were not farmers. Instead, they were nomadic, meaning they moved around Northern California depending on the season. They gathered food where it was plentiful. In spring, they would walk to the coast to collect seaweed, abalone, and shellfish. These foods were dried and stored for winter. They also hunted small animals all year long using clever traps, spears, or arrows.
The most important food for the Pomo people was acorns. They gathered acorns in the fall and carefully stored them for winter. Fish, deer, and elk meat were also dried to be eaten during the colder months.
Amazing Baskets
The Pomo people were incredibly skilled at making baskets. You can learn more about the Pomo's basket weaving on the main Pomo Wikipedia page.
Helping Their Community
The Pinoleville Pomo Nation runs a housing program to help low-income residents. They also encourage building homes that are good for the environment. They work with a housing committee and an environmental department. So far, they have built two houses with help from architects and engineers from UC Berkeley.
Their environmental department has also created a special program for tribal youth. This program teaches young people about plants. It helps them feel good about themselves and learn useful skills. These skills also aim to improve their diets and help the local environment. The Pinole Nation Gardens include a greenhouse, orchards, two gardens, and areas where native plants are being restored, all located in Ukiah.
