Aboriginal Inhabitants and European Colonization
MUWEKMAOHLONE TRIBE
Historical Context and Cultural Loss
Lived in NorthAmerica for over 10 millennia
Developed complex tribes, societies, and nations with unique cultures and identities European colonization led to conflicts over land, culture, and governance
Cultural and Land Loss
● U.S. government treaties often broken, leading to forced relocations onto reservations
● Sovereign Native lands sold to settlers; communal lands divided and sold
● Cultural and religious practices outlawed by 1882
● Native children forced into English-speaking schools, taught to abandon traditional values
Demographic Changes and Cultural Revival
2010 census: 5.2 million identified as NativeAmerican, a 40% increase from 2000
Increase attributed to a resurgence in pride and assertion of Native heritage
Reclaiming Cultural Roots
Efforts by tribes to revitalize cultures, languages, beliefs, and values
Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco BayArea 1169 Main Street, Ste.#3508 Manteca, CA95337 Email: Muwekma@muwekma.org