Pomo

Big Valley Tribe

Pomo girl photographed by Edward S. Curtis in 1924

The Big Valley Tribe, descendants of the Xa-Ben-Na-Po Band of Pomo Indians, historically occupied the Clear Lake area in California. In 1851, a treaty was agreed upon but later rejected by the U.S. Senate, leaving the tribe landless after failing to meet claims deadlines. Over time, the tribe faced illegal termination but regained federal recognition in 1983. The Big Valley Pomo, now a self-governing entity, established Konocti Vista Casino, driving economic growth. Their mission focuses on self-sufficiency, cultural preservation, and community development.

Pomo Basket Making

Pomo Basket

Pomo baskets served varied practical functions in everyday life. Baby baskets, designed for easy transport, were crafted with care, while tightly woven cooking baskets held water for food preparation, utilizing heated stones to cook soups and mush without burning. Coarse, white willow baskets allowed visibility for storing fish and wood, while conical baskets, adorned with intricate designs, were used for gathering seeds. Essential for winter, storage baskets secured dried foods, demonstrating the Pomo’s ingenious craftsmanship and resourcefulness in basket making.

Pomo Tribe

The Pomo Indians, part of the Kulanapan linguistic stock, primarily inhabit areas in California’s Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Colusa, and Glenn Counties. Their territory includes the Russian River Valley and parts of the Sacramento Valley, marked by distinct dialects. Renowned for their exceptional basketry, the Pomo resemble other north-central Californian tribes in stature and culture. While largely unaffected by early Franciscan missions, their population today stands around 800, living primarily in their ancestral lands and engaging in farming. Pomo society lacks distinct tribes, being organized instead into villages.

Pomo Indians

The Pomo Indians, historically categorized within the Hokan linguistic family, inhabited the Pacific Coast from Cleone to Duncans Point and inland to Clear Lake. They are divided dialectically into several groups, including the Northeastern, Eastern, Southeastern, Northern, Central, Southern, and Southwestern Pomo. Each subgroup corresponds to specific village communities, such as Bakamtati and Hiwalhmu. In terms of population, estimates suggest a significant decline from around 8,000 individuals in 1770 to approximately 1,143 by 1930.

Pomo Indian Bands, Gens and Clans

This post highlights the existence of various sub-groups within tribes, specifically focusing on the Pomo people. It mentions two bands: the Cahlahtel Pomo, an unidentifiable group from Mendocino County, and the Haukoma, a Pomo division near Clear Lake that had a population of 40 in 1851. The information serves to enrich the historical understanding of the Pomo Indian bands, gens, and clans, despite the limited data available on these groups.