The Big Lagoon Rancheria is a

federally recognized tribe This is a list of federally recognized tribes in the contiguous United States of America. There are also federally recognized Alaska Native tribes. , 574 Indian tribes were legally recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) of the Unite ...

of Yurok and Tolowa Indians. They are located in

Humboldt County, California Humboldt County () is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 136,463. The county seat is Eureka. Humboldt County comprises the Eureka–Arcata– Fortuna, California Micropolitan Statist ...

, and their tribal headquarters is in

Arcata, California Arcata (; Wiyot: ''Goudi’ni''; Yurok: ''Oket'oh'') is a city adjacent to the Arcata Bay (northern) portion of Humboldt Bay in Humboldt County, California, United States. At the 2020 census, Arcata's population was 18,857. Arcata was first ...

Government

The tribe was first recognized by the US federal government on 10 July 1918.Big Lagoon Rancheria Historical Background.
''The Barstow Casino & Resort.'' (retrieved 24 Feb 2009) Tribal enrollment is based on a minimum of 1/8

blood quantum Blood quantum laws or Indian blood laws are laws in the United States that define Native American status by fractions of Native American ancestry. These laws were enacted by the federal government and state governments as a way to estab ...

and lineal descent from the Plan of Distribution on the Assets of the Big Lagoon Rancheria, created January 3, 1968.Constitution of the Big Lagoon Rancheria.
1985 (retrieved 24 Feb 2009) The tribe has 24 enrolled members.

Reservation

The Big Lagoon Rancheria was established in 1918. Their reservation is adjacent to Big Lagoon, a beautiful waterway, located north of

Eureka, California Eureka (Wiyot: ''Jaroujiji'', Hupa: ''do'-wi-lotl-ding'', Karuk: ''uuth'') is the principal city and county seat of Humboldt County in the Redwood Empire region of California. The city is located on U.S. Route 101 on the shores of Humboldt B ...

. It also lies adjacent to the unincorporated community of

Big Lagoon, California Big Lagoon is a census-designated place in Humboldt County, California. It is located north of Trinidad, at an elevation of . Its population is 161 as of the 2020 census, up from 93 from the 2010 census. Education Big Lagoon is the seat of the ...

. Eight households reside on the reservation. The tribe has been able to improve the local water facilities and road system on the reservation. As of the 2010 Census the population was 17.https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=0240

Education

The ranchería is served by the Big Lagoon Union Elementary School District and Northern Humboldt Union High School District.

Economic development

Due to the highly sensitive environment of the reservation, the tribe has agreed with the state of California to not develop the reservation. Instead the tribe has partnered with the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeño Indians to operate the Barstow Casino and Resort in

Barstow, California Barstow is a city in San Bernardino County, California, in the Mojave Desert of Southern California. Located in the Inland Empire region of California, the population was 25,415 at the 2020 census. Barstow is an important crossroads for the In ...

. The historical Arcata Hotel in Arcata is owned and operated by the Big Lagoon Rancheria.

Notes

References

* Pritzker, Barry M. ''A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples.'' Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. .

External links

Constitution of the Big Lagoon Rancheria
{{DEFAULTSORT:Big Lagoon Rancheria Tolowa Yurok Federally recognized tribes in the United States Native American tribes in California American Indian reservations in California Native Americans in Humboldt County, California 1918 establishments in California Populated coastal places in California