Rohnerville_Rancheria
Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria
Indian tribe in California, United States
The Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria is a federally recognized tribe of Mattole, Bear River and Wiyot people in Humboldt County, California.[3]
The tribe's Bear River Casino in Loleta, California | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 550 enrolled members [1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( California) | |
| Languages | |
| English, historically Mattole and Wiyot | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Mattole and Wiyot people[2] |
The Bear River Band is headquartered in Loleta, California.[2] Tribal enrollment is based on residency on the Rohnerville Rancheria from 1910 to 1960 or being a lineal descent of those residents.[4]
The Rohnerville Rancheria is a federally recognized ranchería located in two separate parts. One (40°34′49″N 124°07′21″W) is at the eastern edge of Fortuna, and the other (40°37′53″N 124°12′11″W) to the southeast of Loleta, both in Humboldt County. As of the 2010 Census the population was 38.[5]
The tribe's traditional territory was along the Mattole and Bear Rivers near Cape Mendocino. Wiyot people lived along the Little River down to the Bear River and 25 miles (40 km) eastward.[3]: 154 The Mattole villages of Tcalko', Chilsheck, Selsche'ech, Tlanko, Estakana, and Sehtla were located along Bear River.[2]
The Bear River Band owns and operates several entities including Bear River Casino Resort, River's Edge Restaurant, the Thirsty Bear Lounge, Bear River Recreation Center, and Bear River Tobacco Traders all located in Loleta, California.[6] The new Bear River Family Entertainment Center that includes a 10 lane bowling alley, arcade, and laser tag and tournament baseball field open to the public, located next to the Bear River Recreation Center.
Mattole people differ from neighboring tribes because men traditionally tattooed their faces, instead of just women. Mattole spoke the Mattole language, an Athapaskan language,[2] while Wiyots spoke the Wiyot language, an Algonquian language.[7]
- "Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria." Archived 15 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine United Indian Health Services. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
- Pritzker, Barry M (2000). A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-513877-1.: 155
- "Amended Constitution of the Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria.", retrieved 25 June 2012.
- "Bear River Casino". 500nations.com. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- "Wiyot Indians." Archived 30 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine SDSU: California Indians and Their Reservations. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
- Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria, official website
- Wiyot Tribe
- Mattole[usurped], Four Directions Institute
- Wiyot[usurped], Four Directions Institute