Lesson 1: California Indians and Their Environment

Key Idea

Scientists have a theory for how the first people arrived in the Americas. Around 25,000 B.C.E., during the last ice age, a wide land bridge known as Beringia appeared, connecting Asia and North America.

Hunters followed herds of large animals, like mammoths, across this land. As they migrated south, the First Peoples arrived in California by approx. 15,000 BCE, eventually settling all across the continents to become the first Americans.

Key Idea

California's varied lands, from forests to deserts, supported a great cultural diversity among American Indian peoples. Each group developed unique ways of life based on the resources found in their specific homeland.

In the north and central regions, the Pomo and Miwok peoples relied on oak trees, gathering acorns as a main food source. The Pomo also wove intricate baskets for cooking and storage.

Key Idea

California Indian groups were expert land managers who did more than just hunt and gather. They worked to shape the environment to ensure food security.

By approx. 2,000 B.C.E., distinct practices emerged, such as the use of controlled fires. These small, planned fires cleared away dead plants, which helped healthy new grasses grow.