Indigenous People of California - Course Overview and Tribal Identity

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, course texts, tribal recognition levels, terminology, and identity examples from the introductory lecture.

Federal Recognition

Official recognition held by 574 tribes in the US (about 190 in California), qualifying them for Bureau of Indian Affairs services, sovereign nation status, sovereign land rights, and tribal control over enrollment.

State Recognition

Status held by 62 recognized tribes across 11 states (with zero in California) where tribes are treated as 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporations and lack sovereign land or gaming rights.

County Recognition

Status held by 12 tribes across 4 states, treated as LLC corporations without gaming rights.

County-Recognized California Tribes

The three tribes recognized at the county level in California: Gabrieleno Band of San Gabriel Mission Indians, Fernandeño Band of San Fernando Mission Indians, and Ventureño Band of Ventura Mission Indians.

"Skins"

An internal term used among Native Americans (primarily young Native men), described as the Native equivalence of the N-word and inappropriate for non-Natives to use.

Tending the Wild

A reference book by M. Kat Anderson detailing Native American knowledge and management of California's natural resources.

California Indians: A Source Book

A foundational text on California Native peoples compiled and edited by R.F. Heizer and M.A. Whipple.

Aboriginal Society in Southern California

An ethnographic reference text written by William Duncan Strong.

Iron Eyes Cody

An Italian actor born Oscar de Corti who claimed to be Native American throughout his career despite having no Native heritage.

Lou Diamond Phillips

A Filipino actor born James Diamond who does not claim Native ancestry but frequently portrays Native American characters.

Taylor Lautner

A German/Anglo actor who played a Native character on film but is not Native American and never claims to be.

Michael Horse

An actor born Michael James Heinrich who claims Apache and Zuni ancestry and grew up at White Mountain, though neither tribe claims him and he is not enrolled.

Wes Studi

An enrolled Cherokee actor who speaks fluent Cherokee and is active in the Tsulagi community.

Radmilla Cody

An enrolled Navajo/African American former Miss Navajo who speaks Navajo as her first language and lives on the Navajo Nation.

Will Rogers

A Cherokee/Anglo public figure and enrolled Cherokee tribal member who expressed great pride in his Cherokee ancestry.

Kristen Dorsey

A Chickasaw/Anglo jeweler and enrolled Chickasaw tribal member who speaks Chickasaw and is active in her community.

Contextual Self-Identification

The cultural practice of adapting how one describes their tribal identity based on whether the listener is non-Native, from another tribe, or from the same tribal group/clan.