Yuman

Walapai Tribe

Walapai Indians (Xawálapáya, ‘pine tree folk.’ – Harrington). A Yuman tribe originally living on middle Colorado River, above the Mohave tribe, from the great bend eastward, well into the interior chiefly by the chase and on roots and seeds. They are said to have been brave and enterprising, but physically inferior to the Mohave. The Havasupai, who are an offshoot, speak a closely-related language. The Walapai numbered 728 in 1889, 631 in 1897, and 498 in 1910. They are under the administration of a school superintendent on the Walapai Reservation of 730,880 acres in north west Arizona, and are making … Read more

Cuñeil Tribe

Cuñeil Indians. A tribe, evidently Yuman, described as inhabiting the territory between San Diego, southern California and the mouth of the Rio Colorado…

Coanopa Tribe

Coanopa Indians. A tribe, apparently Yuman, residing probably on or in the vicinity of the lower Rio Colorado early in the 18th century. They visited Father Nino while he was among the Quigyuma and are mentioned by him in connection with the Cuchan (Yuma) and other tribes . Possibly the Cocopa.

Cajuenche Tribe

Cajuenche Indians. A Yuman tribe speaking the Cocopa dialect and residing in 1775-76 on the east bank of the Rio Colorado below the mouth of the Gila, next to the Quigyuma, their rancherias extending south to about lat. 32° 33º and into central south California, about lat. 33° 08′, where they met the Comeya. At the date named the Cajuenche are said to have numbered 3,000 and to have been enemies of the Cocopa . Of the disappearance of the tribe practically nothing is known, but if they are identical with the Cawina, or Quokim, as they seem to be, … Read more

Yuman Tribe

The Yuman Indians were a significant linguistic group historically occupying the southwestern United States and northern Baja California. Their territory included the Colorado River valley, the lower Gila River valley, and southern California. The Yuman tribes were known for their diverse cultural practices and varying levels of social organization, with the northern tribes, like the Mohave and Yuma, displaying more advanced agricultural practices and craftsmanship compared to their southern counterparts. Despite the harsh environments they inhabited, many Yuman groups developed distinct social structures, engaged in agriculture, and produced fine basketry and pottery. Their population in the early 20th century was approximately 3,700 within the United States. The Yuman tribes included well-known groups like the Cocopa, Diegueño, Maricopa, and Havasupai, while several smaller tribes have either become extinct or lost their distinct identities.

Mohave Tribe

Mohave Indians (from hamok ‘three’, avi ‘mountain’). The most populous and war like of the Yuman tribes. Since known to history they appear to have lived on both sides of the Rio Colorado, though chiefly on the east  side, between the Needles (whence their name is derived) and the entrance to Black Canyon. Ives, in 1857, found only a few scattered families in Cottonwood Valley, the bulk of their number being below Hardyville. In recent times a body of Chemehuevi have held the river between them and their kinsmen the Yuma. The Mohave are strong, athletic, and well developed, their … Read more

Comeya Tribe

Comeya Indians. Apparently a collective name indefinitely applied to the Yuman tribes from San Diego eastward to the lower Rio Colorado. By many authors it has been assumed to be synonymous with Diegueno, which doubtless it was in part. Just what tribes it included can not now be told, but the term is here applied only to interior tribes, the Diegueno about San Diego being excluded. When visited by Anza, Garcés, and Font, in 1775, the “Quemayá” wore sandals of maguey fiber and descended from their own territory (which began at the mountains, in lat. 33 08 , some 100 … Read more

Havasupai Tribe

Havasupai Indians (blue or green water people). A small isolated tribe of the Yuman stock (the nucleus of which is believed to have descended from the Walapai) who occupy Catract canyon of the Rio Colorado in north west Arizona.  Whipple was informed in 1850 that the “cosninos” roamed from the Sierra Mogollon to the San Francisco mountains and along the valley of the Colorado Chiquito. The tribe is a peculiarly interesting one, since of all the Yuman tribes it is the only one which has developed or borrowed a culture similar to, though less advanced, than that of the Pueblo … Read more