Where Do Yokuts Live?

Yokuts, also called Mariposan, North American Indians speaking a Penutian language and who historically inhabited the San Joaquin Valley and the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada south of the Fresno River in what is now California, U.S. The Yokuts were traditionally divided into tribelets, perhaps as many as 50, ...

Are the Yokuts still alive?

A few Valley Yokuts remain, the most prominent tribe among them being the Tachi. Kroeber estimated the population of the Yokuts in 1910 as 600. Today about 2000 Yokuts are enrolled in the federally recognized tribe. An estimated 600 Yokuts are said to belong to unrecognized tribes.

What shelter did the Yokuts live in?

A typical shelter was the mat-covered communal house. As many as 10 families could live there. Some Yokuts, especially those around Tulare Lake, built temporary huts. These wedge-shaped tents were up to 300 feet long and could house a dozen or more families.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.