The People and Culture of the Chumash (First Peoples of North America)

For thousands of years, Native Americans have called North America home. They built great cities, communities, and cultures in the continent s hills, valleys, deserts, and forests. However, for many, with the arrival of Europeans, traditional ways of life were challenged and sometimes eradicated entirely. As was the case with many Native tribes living on the West Coast, the Chumash were eventually influenced by the California missions and Catholic priests that populated the region from the 1700s onward. This is the story of how they persisted, despite hardship, and what life for Chumash members is like today. Bibliography, Biographies, Black-and-White Photographs, Detailed Table of Contents, Full-Color Photographs, Further Information Section, Glossary, Illustrations, Maps, Primary Sources, Pronunciation Guide, Recipes, Timelines, Websites. A culture begins Origins of a people A changing landscape Chumash belief and storytelling Building a civilization Life in a village - housing and buildings A societal structure Life in a Chumash village It takes a village Survival without agriculture Recipe The house of the sea A trade network - Chumash attire Function and elegance Basket making Beliefs of the Chumash The universe and origins Vision quests, guides, and medicines A tradition of dance and song Prayer through painting Communal gaming An oral tradition Overcoming hardships Encountering Europeans - Mission life Struggles to survive An endangered language The nation's presence now Adapting to new lifestyles - Santa Ynez today Faces of the Chumash Juan de Jesus Justo Kitsepawit Pacomio Maria Solares Rafael Solares. Explores the history and traditions of the Chumash from their settlement in North America to the modern day, describing their belief system, rituals, and notable figures.