The Chumash Tribe

(shoe*mash)

By Naiven Jones
Teacher: Ms. Azafrani
12/04/11

The Chumash Group can be found on the coast of California next to the Pacific Ocean. They
have survived for many years because they take care of themselves by using their environment to help
energize their bodies. The Chumash group are very good at adapting to their environment. The
Chumash group used everything around them and did not waste anything they pulled or caught from
nature.
The Chumash group was discovered in 1542. Colonists who came to America to start a new
population discovered the Native American tribe. The Chumash group ate fish, birds, seal, whale,
dolphin, and sea animals. The kind of clothing they wear is knee length grass or deerskin skirts,
ceremonial belts, deerskin capes, and feather robes. Their homes are made out of grass, hay, and sticks.
The kind of arts and crafts they make are grass basketry, caving arts, and rock paintings. One of the
names the Chumash leaders called themselves were "wots". Wots could be either men or women. The
Chumash tribe was a matriarchal society. Matriarchal means when women are in charge.
Ceremonies are an important part of Chumash life. Ceremonies usually happen after they win
war and when something important happens such as the birth of a child. Some of their customs are war
each year. When a child is born they break its nose to make it look beautiful. Their religious beliefs are
when people die their souls guide the living tribesman. The tribesman look up to the dead tribes people
for answers they can't find on earth or anywhere else.
The Chumash group were known to be very good hunter-gatherers. Hunter-gatherers are people
who catch their food and use wild plants and nutrients in order to survive. This helped them adapt to their
environment and survive because they used resources from both the land and the sea. Basically what I
mean is they have land to live on and used all of the nature around them to survive. The Chumash tribe
also had astronomers who guided the everyday lives of the people by charting the stars.
I learned from the tribe that if you look around nature you can find something to help you survive.
We could learn many lessons from them to help us live longer and healthier lives.

The Chumash Tribe

(shoe*mash)

By Naiven Jones
Teacher: Ms. Azafrani
12/04/11

References:

1.) Vincent Armenta, santaynezchumash.com

2.) Laura Redish, http://www.bigorrin.org/chumash_kids.htm
3.) Cook, Sherburne F. 1976. The Population of the California Indians, 1769-1970. University of
California Press, Berkeley. wikipedia.com
4.) Wood, Aubrey, chumashindians.com
5.) youtube.com