Chumash: The Native American tribe

The Chumash

The Chumash tribe inhabited the central and southern coastal region of California. The Chumash procured their food from the area around them. They gathered many types of foods from plants. Acorns gathered from oak trees were the most important food to the Chumash people. Apart from the acorns, they also collected clams, shells, abalone and amole (soap plant). Their food consisted of many types of meat as well. From the sea they hunted sharks, sea bass, halibut and bonitos. From the land they hunted dear, coyote, fox, rabbits, ducks, seals, sea otters and geese. 

The Chumash lived in different types homes. The Chumash houses, called "'ap" were very peculiar in both, construction and design. It was round in shape and was made of willow poles.  The house had an opening at the top.  Light entered through this hole and allowed smoke to escape when food had to be prepared indoors. In the middle of the floor they made fire for cooking. For privacy they hung deer skins in the entrance way. Apart from "'apu", where they lived, Chumash people also built sweat houses called "apa'yik", by digging large holes in the ground and men had to climb down into it. 

Chumash clothes were very simple. Women wore dear skins aprons and skirts. Most men wore nothing except for wealthier members of the community who wore deer capes. To keep them warm in winter, cloaks were made from animal skins During festivals and ceremonies, the Chumash wore attractive head dresses, decorated with eagle and hawk feathers, shells and animal skulls.

The Chumash made a variety of tools and weapons to use in their day to day lives. They used plank canoes, called "tamols" for travelling on water. Tamols were built with layers of redwood planks lashed together with cords and pine pitch. The rafts made by the Chumash further north were made of tule reeds and only were used to cross small bays. The Chumash used harpoons and curved hooks for fishing. They were highly skilled arrow makers and they used bows and arrows for hunting. For use around the homes, they made boxes, plates and bowls out of wood. To make skillets and pots for cooking, the Chumash used steatite (A type of stone). The Chumash were and are, still renowned for their basketry. Chumash baskets were used as  infant carriers for storing valuables, food, water and even cooking. To make these baskets hold water, they put asphaltum inside them, and then put hot stones in to melt the tar in order to fill the cracks.

Trading was an important part of Chumash life. When trading they often received obsidian, salt, antelope, elk skins and herbs. But in return the Chumash gave other native American groups, clam shells, disk, beads, which was used as money by most of the central and south californian native Americans. 

The Chumash had a rich culture filled with a number of ceremonies. Each village had an area for dancing and ceremonies. Since food was easy to get, people had more time for games, singing and dancing. For dancing they used a variety of instruments such as flutes, whistles, rattles and musical bows. The Chumash were also among a few tribes, to leave paintings on rocks. These paintings most likely had religious or ceremonial purpose and were generally sacred spots for the people. 

Bibliography

1. Boul, Mary. California Native American Tribes: Chumash Tribes. Vashon, WA: Merryant Publishing, 1992.

2. California Indian Fact cards. Milpitas, CA: Toucan Valley Publications, 1996.

3. An Educational coloring book of California Indians. Rapid city, South Dakota. Spizzari Publishing Inc., 1986