The Chumash tribe had several bands. Separately, they have their customs and traditions. They also have their own ways of governing their people and making foods. One of the bands was called the Santa Ynez Chumash. This group of Chumash People was living near the Santa Ynez. They have their own reservation. When one hears a word about Indian reservation or Native American reservation, this means that the tribe owned the land and they have the powers and control to it.

They have a say whenever someone wanted to claim their land. The other group of Chumash people settled on the tribal lands they shared with the other Southern California Indians such as the Tejon Indian. There were times they had shared their lands in mixed communities throughout their traditional territories.

Chumash People Village

In ancient days, the Native Americans certainly had their own set of government officials. Every single Chumash village had its own chief captain. Their chief captain can be correlated with the mayors of the city in the modern times. By electing their village chiefs, they chose those people who were important, wealthy, and powerful and also has the ability to govern them. If in a democratic country the people get the freedom to choose their leaders, in the Chumash village, the elders had the liberty to choose their chief. Although, the elected chiefs could be either a men or women. Nowadays, the government set up improved. The Chumash people had the choice in picking the ones to be put in the tribal councils.

Chumash living

There were Chumash who was living in the America today. They can be found in schools or anywhere. Sometimes they were not recognized to be part of a certain native tribe. Chumash living in the good house.

Chumash Language

The Chumash people today know how to communicate and speak English. Some of the children do not even know how to speak the Chumash language. Though the elders still know their own language that was created by their ancestors. The good thing is the young Chumash wanted to learn their traditional language. They were very curious about it. It is best to note that Chumash language is not an easy language to learn. It has many long words that cannot be easily recognized. But there are also easy words in their language. For example is the word “Haku”. It is pronounced as “hah-Koo”. It is a greeting or a “hi” of the Chumash.

Chumash Children

The Chumash children today are just like any other children in the world. They play games, go to school, make their assignments and aid assistance to their mother in doing the household chores. Sometimes these children loved to offer support to their fathers in hunting wild animals and fishing. Back to the past days, the native kids had less time to play because they always do some chores.

However, they had toys such as dolls and other games to play during their free time. One of the most favorite games of the Chumash children was a contest on which the javelin will be thrown through a rolling hoop. The kids of the Chumash people also enjoy swimming in the beaches near their homes. When a mother had an infant, they usually carried it in a cradleboard basket.

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