The Pomo Indians were a wealthy tribe living in California with access to salt and magnesite. They were skilled in basket making and lived in various environments. They hunted, fished, and gathered food. They had close ties with Russian fur traders but were later raided by Mexicans and impacted by European diseases. They were confined to a reservation but eventually ended up on various reservations throughout the state. Some lobbied for the recapture of their ancestral lands.
The Pomo Indians were a tribal people who lived on the west coast of the United States, mainly north of what is now San Francisco in the state of California. They were generally known as a particularly wealthy tribe, living in an area with abundant resources and other advantages. The tribe lived near a deposit of salt, which was a useful trade item, and also lived near magnesite, which was used in bead making. At one time, the Pomo Indians occupied a relatively large area of land, but were only able to hold about 50 acres (20.23 ha). They have always been highly regarded for their skill and artistry in the area of basket making – their baskets are very colorful and use a variety of materials including feathers and many types of wood.
The historic Pomo Indians lived in many different environments, from coastal areas to forests, so their habitats varied significantly. Those who lived near the sea built their houses with bark and hardwood, while those who lived further inland generally built houses with softer materials such as grass and matting. There was no real concept of land ownership among the Pomo Indians and they generally shared everything with the community, including hunting grounds.
The food was very filling for Pomo Indians. They lived in an area with a large number of edible plants and animals. The tribe gathered many different types of nuts and berries. They also hunted and fished, targeting a wide variety of animals that included everything from waterfowl to mammals like deer. Hunting was done using many different weapons, including bows and arrows, clubs, nets, and many different types of traps.
The tribe generally had close ties to Russian fur traders in the early 1800s, but the latter part of that century was a turning point as things started to get more difficult. Mexicans began raiding Pomo Indian territory and taking members of the tribe as slaves. They were forced to hide in the Spanish missions and reserves so they could protect themselves. European diseases such as smallpox also had a significant impact on their population.
In late 1857, the tribe was confined to a single reservation at Fort Bragg, California, but that didn’t work out: they were abandoned within 10 years. The remaining members of the tribe typically ended up on various reservations throughout the state. Some of the Pomos lobbied the US government to recapture a larger portion of their ancestral lands.
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