The American Indian/Alaska Native/Indigenous population of
Santa Clara County is comprised of families from over a hundred tribal communities that include the local indigenous tribe of the area; neighboring
California tribes to the south, east and north of
Santa Clara Valley; other tribes throughout
California; and relocated Indians from tribes throughout the
United States.
The local indigenous tribe to the
Santa Clara Valley is the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area. The Muwekma is comprised of all the known surviving American Indian lineages aboriginal to the San Francisco Bay Region and whose members are from the historic Federally Recognized Verona Band. Neighboring tribes to the Muwekma include the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, with descendents of Mission San Juan Bautista and Mission Santa Cruz; and the Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Nation, the aboriginal people of the Greater Monterey Region extending from
Fort Ord to Big Sur and beyond, and from
Monterey to
Soledad.
After World War II, the
U.S. federal government Bureau of Indian Affairs started a relocation program for American Indians living on tribal reservations. Members of tribes from across the
United States, including Cherokee, Navajo, Rosebud Sioux, Choctaw, Apache, Hopi, and many others were relocated to urban areas. These Indians settled in cities and have now raised two or three generations in this setting.
In 1990,
California had the second-largest Native American population of any state, with approximately 242,000 Native American residents, second only to
Oklahoma.
Facts About The
American Indian /
Alaska Native Community
Some estimate that American Indians/Alaska Natives have been living in the United States for the past 5,000 years.
While some American Indians were historically hunter-gatherers, many practiced aquacultural and agriculture. The impact of their agricultural endowment to the world is a testament to their time and work in reshaping, taming, and cultivating the flora indigenous to the Americas.
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the American Indians (Indigenous) comprised 74 – .9 percentage of the US population.
Part-American Indian (Part-Indigenous) comprises .57 – .74 percent. Combined total 1.31 – 1.64 percent. American Indian and Alaska Native Persons comprised 1.0 of the U.S. in 2006.
American Indian and Alaska Native Persons comprised 1.2 of the California Population in 2006.
The percent of American Indians is growing in the U.S.
There are approximately 562 Federally Recognized Tribes in the United States with over 240 more petitioning for recognition.
There are over 100 Federally Recognized Indian Tribes in California, and almost 100 Federal Indian reservations in the state, with about 40 Indian groups seeking to gain Federal Fecognition. The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area were previously and unambiguously Federally Recognized as the Verona Band of Alameda County in 1906... They are currently in a litigation to restore their Federal Recognized Status, waiting for justice to prevail!
The most recent Indian gaming statistics, provided by the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), indicate that there are approximately 400 Indian gaming establishments in the United States. These casinos are operated by approximately 220 Federally Recognized Tribes and offer Class I, Class II and Class III gaming opportunities.
Life on some American Indian reservations today equates to living conditions in a third-world country. Running water, electricity, sewer systems and access to supermarkets and other services are non-existent.
American Indians have the highest rate of diabetes of any group, experiencing rates 2½ times more than any other ethnic group.
Tribes are reemphasizing their traditions and philosophy. Native customs and languages that were previously outlawed (and punishable by death) are being taught to Tribal members.
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