The California Region comprises part of the modern state of California. However parts of California are also part of the Southwest and Basin Regions. The region was dominated by four linguistic/cultural groups. These were the Hokan (scattered across the region), Athabascan (northwestern coastal area), Uto-Aztecan (extreme Southern area) and the Penutian (comprising the largest central area)

ACHOMAW. Aka Pit River. A Hokan tribe located in the northeast on the Oregon border near Goose Lake.

CHUMASH. A Hokan tribe located in the Santa Barbara area. Fought the Spanish in 1824.

COSTANOAN. A Penutian group located in the coastal area south of the San Francisco Bay.

HUPA. The major Athabascan group of the region. Located the northwest near the Trinity National Forest. Fought the Yuki.

MAIDU. A group of Penutian tribes located around the modern day Plumas National Forest in northeastern California.

MIWAK. Aka MIWOK. A large group of Penutian tribes located from the western shore of Lake Tahoe, to the northeastern inlet of San Francisco Bay/ San Pablo Bay. Tribes divided into northern, central, southern, lake and plains sub-groups. Considered very aggressive. Spanish and Mexican authorities recorded numerous raids between the Miwoks and their neighbors which implies that they would have been just as active prior to the arrival of the Spanish. Fought neighboring tribes throughout the 1820s and 1830s; the Mexicans in the 1830s and 1840s; provided troops and scouts to Fremont's and other US froces during the Mexican -American War; US militia in 1850-51

MODOC. Located close to the point where the California, Northwest Coast and Plateau regions joined, in the area. Often fought tribes from the adjacent regions. Fought the Chinook, Cayuse and USA

NISENAN. Aka Southern Maidu.

PIT RIVER. See Achomaw.

POMO. A Hokan group of tribes located in the coastal area just north of San Francisco Bay.

WASHO. A Hokan group located on the Nevada border near eastern Lake Tahoe.

WINTUN. A Penutian group located in north central California around the Sacramento Valley. Fought the Yuki

YOKUTS. Aka Yakuts. A Penutian group in Central California near Fresno and extend south to Bakersfield and southeast to the Death Valley area. Fought the US militia in 1850-51.

YUKI. Located in northwest coastal area of Ft Bragg to the Sacramento valley. Fought the Hupa and Wintun

More America's Far West

Introduction
Warfare Among the Native Nations of the Mackenzie and Northwest Coast
Major Nations in the Mackenzie and Northwest Coast Regions
The Nations of the Plateau
Major Nations of the Great Basin
Major Nations of the California Region
Chronology of Conflicts