Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria

The Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria is a federally recognized tribe, located South of Eureka, traditionally living on the Mattole and Bear Rivers in the vicinity of Cape Mendocino.

One notable difference between the Mattole and other indigenous people if what is now northwest California is that the men traditionally had facial tatoos (on the forehead), while other local groups traditionally restricted facial tatoos to women.

The Mattole spoke an Athapaskan Language, aboriginal Bear River Villages included Tcalko’, Chilsheck, Selsche’ech, Tlanko, Estakana, and Sehtla.

The tribal headquarters are located in Loleta California.

Tribal Government Representatives
Teresa Ballew
Barry Brenard (Alternate)

Big Lagoon Rancheria

The Big Lagoon Rancheria is a federally recognized tribe of Yurok and Tolowa indians. They are located in Humboldt County and their tribal headquarters is in Arcata, California.

The tribe was first recognized by the US Federal Government on July 10, 1918. The tribe has 24 enrolled members, eight households reside on the reservation.

Their 20 acre reservation is adjacent to Big Lagoon, a beautiful waterway, located 30 miles north of Eureka.

Tribal Government Representatives
Shauana Neyra

Blue Lake Rancheria

Blue Lake Rancheria is a federally recognized Indian reservation shared by Wiyot, and a few Yurok and Hupa people. Located in Northern California, 12 miles north of Eureka and 5 miles east of Arcata.

The Blue Lake Rancheria tribe is a Sovereign Nation which exercises jurisdiction over its Tribal lands and Tribal Members. The Tribe is organized under an IRA Constitution and has the authority to administer programs designed to meet the needs of American Indians residing on the Blue Lake Rancheria, Largely through a PL 93-638 Self Determination Contract, and the operation of its Economic Development Corporations.

Tribal Government Representatives
Diane Holliday
Claudia Brundin (Alternate)

Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria

The Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria is a federally recognized tribe located near the City of Trinidad, California.

For thousands of years the Yurok, Wiyot and Tolowa people have lived in the coastal redwood forest region of Northern California. They were fishers, hunters and gatherers who subsisted primarily on salmon, clams, mussels and other ocean fish, as well as deer, elk, and smaller game animals. Assorted berries and tan oak acorns were also food staples. Year-round ceremonies were, and continue to be, central to the Yurok, Wiyot and Tolowa culture bringing families and villages together to give thanks, heal and pray.

Tribal Government Representatives
Joy Sundberg
Ruby Rollings (Alternate)

Elk Valley Rancheria

The Tolowa resided in eight villages along or near the coast. There are currently ninety-four tribal members in the Elk Valley Rancheria, a combination of both Tolowa and Yurok Indians.

The Tribe has worked hard to bring prosperity to both the Elk Valley Rancheria, and surrounding region through providing employment opportunities, a wide variety of donations, community support and revenue. Tribal revenues are also invested in college education for tribal members, as well as early education programs for Native American children at the Elk Valley Head Start.

Tribal Government Representatives
John Green
LaWanda Quinnell (Alternate)

Resighini Rancheria

The Resighini Rancheria is a federally recognized reservation and is located along the south bank of the Klamath River and on the west by Highway 101 bridge and backed up against privately owned land within what is now known as the Yurok Reservation.

We presently have increased our land base; we have five homes, three tribal administration buildings, a tribally owned Gold Bear Casino, a tribally owned Cher-ere Campground and are in the process of other economic development projects.

The tribal headquarters are located in Klamath California.

Tribal Government Representatives
Donald McCovey

Table Bluff Reservation - Wiyot Tribe

Their traditional homeland ranged from Mad River through Humboldt Bay to the lower Eel River basin. Inland, their territory was heavily forested in ancient redwood. Their stretch of shoreland was mostly sandy, dunes and tidal marsh.

The reservation is 16 miles south of Eureka between Loleta and the South Jetty of Humboldt Bay. Some people of the Wiyot descent are enrolled in the Bear River Rancheria.

Language: Algonquian

The tribal headquarters are located in Loleta California.

Tribal Government Representatives
Cheryl Seidner
Velva Angell (Alternate)

Tolowa Dee-Ni' Nation

The Tolowa are a tribe of Native Americans, who still resided in their traditional territories in Northwestern California and southern Oregon. Tolowa are members of the federally recognized Tolowa Dee-Ni’ Nation, Elk Valley Rancheria, Confederated Tribes of Siletz, as well as the unrecognized Tolowa Nation.

The have traditionally spoke the Tolowa language, one of the Athapaskan languages. Their subsistence was oriented around riverine and marine resources and acorns.

Tribal Government Representatives
Denise Padgette
Joseph Giovannetti (Alternate)

Yurok Tribe of the Yurok Reservation

Culturally, our people are known as great fishermen, eelers, basket weavers, canoe makers, storytellers, singers, dancers, healers and strong medicine people.

The Klamath-Trinity River is the lifeline of our people because the majority of the food supply like salmon, sturgeon and candlefish are offered to us from these rivers. Also important to our people are the foods which are offered from the ocean and inland areas such as mussels, seaweed, acorns, deer, elk, berries and teas. These foods are essential to our people health, wellness and religious ceremonies.

Tribal Government Representatives
Laura Borden
Mindy Natt (Alternate)