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Native peoples in California tend to differentiate themselves one from another by their political ("nationality," so to speak), ethnic (or cultural), and linguistic differences. In the San Francisco Bay Area there are three languages spoken by the original peoples--Karkin, Bay Miwok, and San Francisco Bay Costanoan. San Francisco Bay Costanoan is comprised of three dialects--Chochenyo (East Bay), Tamien (South Bay), and Ramaytush (San Francisco Peninsula).
Within each of these language areas are a number of independent tribes. Because so few Native peoples survived from only a few independent tribes of the San Francisco Bay Area, they tend to represent the interests of all of the peoples of their corresponding linguistic territory. For example, the only known surviving lineal descendants of the Ramaytush Ohone originate from the Aramai/Chiguan tribes. We represent the interests of all of the independent tribes within Ramaytush territory. |
Descendants
Please try to avoid calling us "descendants" of the original peoples because it tends to reinforce the idea that the "real" Native peoples lived in the ancient past, which an essentialist and racist notion. We are Native peoples, yesterday and today.
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