Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tule River Reservation
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| Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation | |
Location of the Tule River Reservation in California
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| Established | 1864 |
| Seat of Government | East of Porterville, CA |
| Government | |
| • Body | Tule River Tribal Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 218.3 km2 (84.29 sq mi) |
| • Land | 218.3 km2 (84.29 sq mi) |
| • Water | 0 km2 (0 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 1,049 |
| Website | https://tulerivertribe-nsn.gov/ |
The Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation is a group of Native Americans. The United States government officially recognizes them as a tribe. Their home, the Tule River Reservation, is located in Tulare County, California.
The reservation was first home to several different groups of people. These included the Yokuts, Yowlumnes, Wukchumnis, and Western Mono and Tübatulabal tribes. Today, about 1,857 people are part of the tribe. Around 1,033 of them live on the reservation.
Contents
History of the Tule River Tribe
Early Life and the Tule River Farm
For thousands of years, different groups of Native Americans lived in this area. When Europeans arrived, they met tribes like the Yokuts, Mono, and Tübatulabal. The area was first settled by people from Spain and Mexico. Later, European Americans moved in after the US won the Mexican–American War in 1848.
After a conflict called the Tule River Indian War of 1856, a farm was set up in 1858. It was called the Tule River Farm. This farm was near what is now Porterville. It covered about 1,280 acres (5.2 square kilometers) along the South Fork of the Tule River.
In 1860, a government worker named Thomas Madden bought the farm. The government then rented it from him for $1,000 a year.
Creating the Tule River Reservation
In 1864, the Tule River Farm became the Tule River Reservation. This was one of five Indian reservations approved by the US Congress. After the Owens Valley Indian War in 1863, many Owens Valley Paiutes were moved here. This almost doubled the reservation's population.
By 1864, there were 450 Tule River Indians and 350 Owens River Indians living there. The Owens Valley Paiutes had been moved from Fort Tejon.
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People living near Porterville wanted the Native Americans moved further away. Government agents also wanted to give the tribes a more permanent home. They also wanted to keep people from selling alcohol illegally on the reservation.
So, the Tule River Indian Reservation was moved. In 1873, President Ulysses S. Grant officially created it. It became a home for the Tule River, Kings River, Owens River, Monache Cajon, and other scattered groups of Native Americans.
While the Tule River Indian Tribe includes Owens Valley Paiutes and Tübatulabal members, most of the tribe are Yokuts. Traditionally, about 60 Yokuts tribes lived in south-central California. By the late 1800s, their population dropped by 75%. This was due to fighting and diseases brought by Europeans. The Yokuts who survived came together on the Tule River Reservation. This included the Yowlumne and Wukchumni Yokut groups. In 1917, some Kitanemuk people also lived on the reservation.
Tribe's Government
The Tule River Tribe has its own government. They approved their current rules in 1936 and updated them in 1974. Their Tribal Council is chosen by voting. It includes a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and five other Council Members.
The Tule River Tribal Council has nine members in total. Tribal members vote for each person. Then, the elected officials decide who will be the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer.
The main set of rules for the tribe is the Tule River Indian Tribe Constitution and Bylaws. It was approved on January 15, 1936.
The Reservation Land
The Tule River Reservation was set up in 1873 by a US Executive Order. It is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The reservation is home to Painted Rock. This is an ancient site with drawings carved into rocks.
The reservation is south of Fresno and north of Bakersfield. It covers about 55,356 acres (224 square kilometers). About 566 tribal members live on the reservation. You can only reach it by one winding 15-mile (24 km) paved road. The closest towns are East Porterville and Springville.
In August 2022, some wells on the reservation stopped working. Because of this, families had to use bottled water for drinking, cooking, and washing.
Community Programs
The tribe runs many programs to help its members. These include a health clinic and a child care center. They also have an adult education center and a college scholarship program. A housing authority helps with homes for tribal members.
Healthcare Services
The Tule River Indian Health Center is a non-profit organization. It started in 1973. Its goal is to provide healthcare and health education to Native American communities in Tulare County.
A Health Advisory Board guides the Tule River Indian Health Center. This board is made up of tribal members from the Tule River Indian Reservation.
Working with Sequoia National Forest
In 2022, the Forest Service made an agreement with the tribe. This agreement helps the tribe share their traditional practices. These practices are now used to help manage the Sequoia National Forest.
Economy and Businesses
The Tule River Tribe has three main businesses. These businesses help the tribe improve their community. They also help the Tule River Tribe be self-sufficient. This means they can support themselves and improve the daily lives of their members.
Eagle Mountain Casino
Eagle Mountain Casino is the only full-service casino in Tulare County. It is open 24 hours a day. It has over 1,400 slot machines and 12 table games. You can also find live poker tournaments and the River Steakhouse there.
On April 6, 2021, the Tule River Tribe started building a new casino. It will move from the reservation to Porterville. The new casino is set to open in the fall of 2022.
Eagle Feather Trading Post
The Eagle Feather Trading Post is one of the biggest convenience stores in Tulare County. It is located on Highway 190, just above Lake Success. The store sells groceries, cold drinks, and fishing supplies. They also have many brands of cigarettes and tobacco.
Gas, diesel, and propane are sold at the lowest prices available. For people with RVs, there is a $10 dump station and a pet area. There is also plenty of parking and security on site 24 hours a day.
Oral History and Stories
Many stories told by the elders of the Tule River Indian reservation have been passed down for generations. Most of these stories share the ways of life of the Tule River Tribes. All the stories also carry important messages for young people and adults in the area.
Important historical facts in these stories come from Painted Rock. This is a special place with rock carvings along the South Fork Tule River. It is located at 1,608 feet (490 meters) on the Tule Indian Reservation.
Some of these stories include:
- Painted Rock
- Coyote and the Moon
- Coyote and the Sun
- Big Foot, The Hairy Man
- Soda Springs
Education
Most of the reservation is served by the Porterville Unified School District. A small part of it is served by the Springville Union Elementary School District.
See also
