The Mechoopda are a tribe of

Maidu people The Maidu are a Native American people of northern California. They reside in the central Sierra Nevada, in the watershed area of the Feather and American rivers. They also reside in Humbug Valley. In Maiduan languages, ''Maidu'' means "man. ...

, an

indigenous peoples of California The indigenous peoples of California (known as Native Californians) are the indigenous inhabitants who have lived or currently live in the geographic area within the current boundaries of California before and after the arrival of Europeans. ...

. They are enrolled in the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, 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 United ...

. Historically, the tribe has spoken

Konkow The Maidu are a Native Americans in the United States, Native American people of northern California. They reside in the central Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra Nevada, in the watershed area of the Feather River, Feather and American River, American ...

, a language related to the

Maidu language Maidu , also Northeastern Maidu or Mountain Maidu, is an extinct Maiduan language of California, United States. It was spoken by the Maidu peoples who traditionally inhabit the mountains east and south of Lassen Peak in the American River and Fea ...

, and as of 2010, has created digital learning materials from old recordings of Emma Cooper, made during the 1940s as a part of the

war effort In politics and military planning, a war effort is a coordinated mobilization of society's resources—both industrial and human—towards the support of a military force. Depending on the militarization of the culture, the relative size ...

. The tribe was formerly centered in a village located about south of contemporary

Chico, California Chico ( ; Spanish for "little") is the most populous city in Butte County, California. Located in the Sacramento Valley region of Northern California, the city had a population of 101,475 in the 2020 census, reflecting an increase from 86,18 ...

. The Tribe was terminated in 1967, losing its 26-acre Chico Rancheria. Today, approximately one-half of the old Chico Rancheria is now owned by California State University, Chico (CSUC). The 11-acre university-owned portion of the former reservation is used by CSUC's agriculture, anthropology, and archaeology students. The Mechoopda regained federal recognition in 1992.

Government

The Mechoopda Indian Tribe ratified their constitution on 1 February 1998. The tribe is governed by a seven-member council. The current administration is as follows: * Tribal Chairman: Dennis Ramirez * Vice Chairperson: Sandra Knight: * Treasurer: He-Lo Ramirez * Secretary: Roberta Lewis * Member-at-Large: Barbara Rose * Member-at-Large: Isaiah Meders * Member-at-Large: Jenny Atkins"Tribal Government."
''Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Ranchería. Tribal Council.'' Retrieved 13 July 2016.

Reservation

The Chico Ranchería is a federal reservation located in Butte County. The population on the

ranchería The Spanish word ranchería, or rancherío, refers to a small, rural settlement. In the Americas the term was applied to native villages or bunkhouses. Anglo-Americans adopted the term with both these meanings, usually to designate the resident ...

is approximately 70. Chico is the closest town."California Indians and Their Reservations: Chico Rancheria."
''San Diego State University Library and Information Access.'' Retrieved 31 August 2012.

Notes

External links

Mechoopda Maidu Indians
official website

history
University Signs Agreement with Mechoopda Tribe
{{authority control Maidu Federally recognized tribes in the United States Native American tribes in California Chico, California Butte County, California