Books about California Native Tribes can be found under the call number x 970.1 or YA 970.1

Databases

California Indians Fact Cards gives quick facts about the traditional way of life in about 1770 of more than 50 early California groups. For each group the fact card gives information about the location, language, population, settlements, housing, food, clothing and tools.

To use the fact cards, click on the link above, then enter your library card number. Under the California Fact Cards section, click on Indians. Scroll down until you see the name of the tribe you are researching.

WEBSITES

History and Culture

A History of American Indians in California

http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/
5views/5views1.htm
The National Park Service tells the history of Native Americans in California, from earliest contact, through the mission period, to the present day. It does not contain information on individual tribes

Native California Cultures Exhibit of Artifacts

http://hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu/exhibitions/
ncc/ncc_0_intro.html

An online museum exhibit of objects owned by the Phoebe A. Hurst Museum of Anthropology. This is a collection of pictures, with short descriptions.

Basketry

California Indian Basketry:
Shapes and Uses

http://www.mip.berkeley.edu/
cilc/basket.html

Provides pictures of various types of baskets used by California natives, with descriptions of the baskets and what they are used for.

Entwined with Life:
Native American Basketry

http://www.washington.edu/
burkemuseum/baskets/use.html

The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture shows pictures of Native American baskets and describes their use. Photographs are primarily of baskets produced by tribes in the state of Washington, but California tribes are also discussed.

Basketry of Native American Cultures

http://www4.hmc.edu:
8001/humanities/indian/Basketry/
hmcbasketry.html

Describes baskets used by various tribes, with some information on construction and meaning of the patterns used in decoration.

Food Sources & Other Plant Use

Acorn Epicures

http://virtualmarkets.net/
vme/ARNHA/acornepi.html

Acorns were a staple food of some California tribes. This site describes how they were prepared and used.

The Soap Plant

http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/
vme/ARNHA/soaproot.html

The soap plant was another plant used by California tribes. This site describes its uses
and how it was prepared.

Native American Ethnobotany

http://herb.umd.umich.edu/

Learn about some of the plants used by you tribe.
Type the name of your tribe in the search box.

Other reSources

Map

http://www.pacwesttraders.com/map1.html

Languages

http://www.native-languages.org/vocabulary.htm

Learn some words in the language of your tribe. Search for your tribe in the list.

Legends

http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/Legends-AB.html

Read some of the legends of your tribe. Scroll to the bottom to find the right page for your tribe.