The first complete scholarly work on a historically significant, yet
almost entirely undocumented, California Indian tribe, The
Chowchilla traces the history of the Chowchilla from their earliest
known origins to today, with detailed information on the tribe's kinship
structure, social customs, and political development.
Until the Spaniards intruded on their territory, the Chowchilla Yokuts
were peaceful hunter-gatherers. Outraged by Spanish oppression, the
Chowchilla quickly learned the arts of war. They united the tribes of
the California interior and led resistance movements against Spanish,
Mexican, and American occupation. Among the California Indians, the name
Chowchilla was a byword for bravery. Following the consolidation of
American control of California, the Chowchilla were driven from their
land, were forced to abandon their hunter-gatherer lifestyle, and sank
into obscurity. The Chowchilla maintained their tribal identity by
staying as out of sight as possible, sometimes not identifying
themselves as Indian at all. In modern times, the Chowchilla are
regaining their tribal identity and working to achieve federal
recognition.
A serious contribution to American Indian history and anthropology,
The Chowchilla shows the unique experiences and development of one
California tribe from first contact all the way to the present,
providing an invaluable reference for future scholars and for native
people of other tribes as they redefine their tribes as independent
political entities with traditional native values.
This expanded and revised second edition of The Chowchilla has
been updated with seven years of additional research and study, shining
a brighter light on the tribe's honorable and courageous fight to
preserve their rights against Spanish, Mexican, and American invasions.
