Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians

Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians
Total population
168 tribal members on the rancheria,
285 enrolled (1995)[1]
Regions with significant populations
 United States ( California)
Languages
English, Central Sierra Miwok language[2]
Related ethnic groups
other Miwok and Yokut peoples[3]

The Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians is a federally recognized tribe of Yokuts and Miwok people in Tuolumne County, California.[3][4] The Tuolumne Band are central Sierra Miwok people.[5] Annually, in September, the tribe holds an acorn festival and intertribal gathering.[6]

Government

The Tuolumne Band is headquartered in Tuolumne, California. The governing body for the tribe is a legislative body referred to as the "Community Council". Council Officers of the Tuolumne Me-Wuk Tribal Council (TMTC) are democratically elected from among the tribal members; the current tribal chairman is Kevin Day.[4] The Governmental structure for the executive aspects of tribal government (those that provide services to the tribe) is managed by the Chief Executive Officer, who exercises authority over various governmental departments addressing tribal needs, which includes, but are not limited to: the Planning & Development Department, the Cultural Department, The Education Department & the Tribal School, Tribal Security, the Rancheria Fire Department, Tribal Security, the Housing Department, the Fiscal Department, the Recreation Department, and Social Services. The Tuolumne Gaming Authority (TGA) and the Tuolumne Me-Wuk Indian Health Clinic (TWIHC) are other agencies operated by the tribe for tribal benefit.

Reservation

A Tuolumne boy stands next to several acorn silos, 1937

The Tuolumne Rancheria (37°58′51″N 120°14′17″W / 37.98083°N 120.23806°W / 37.98083; -120.23806) is a 715-acre federal Indian reservation in Tuolumne County, at the western base of the Sierra Nevada. It is located near Yosemite National Park.[3] The rancheria was established in 1910, and had a population of 150 in 1990.[7] In 1995 the population was 168.[3] The reservation lies in and just north of the township of Tuolumne. Other nearby communities include Twain Harte, Soulsbyville, and Mono Vista.

Economic development

The Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians economic arm is the Tuolumne Economic Development Authority (TEDA), through which many of the construction projects for the Tribe are planned and completed. The Tribe owns and operates several business in the Tuolumne area, including the Black Oak Casino Resort, the Black Oak Hotel, the Bear Creek Gas Station, the Native Plant Nursery, and the Westside Event Venue. The Casino Resort facility includes restaurants and attractions including the Black Oak Cafe, Seven Sisters Restaurant, the Mill bar, Kingpins, the Willow Creek Lounge, the Manzanita Bar, the Underground Arcade, and the Brunswick Bowling Center. [8]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Populations." SDSU: California Indians and Their Reservations. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  2. ↑ "Native Language Preservation Program." Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Tuolumne Rancheria." SDSU: California Indians and Their Reservations. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Tribal Office Locations." California Department of Transportation: District 10. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  5. ↑ "Miwok." SDSU: California Indians and Their Reservations. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  6. ↑ Pritzker 136
  7. ↑ Pritzker 135
  8. ↑ "Black Oak Casino." 500 Nations. Retrieved 1 June 2012.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.