Yokuts

Biography:

The Yokuts are a group of indigenous tribes from the San Joaquin Valley in central California. They thrived in the region for thousands of years, with a population estimated to be around 70,000 before European contact. The Yokuts were traditionally divided into smaller groups, each with their own dialect and territory. They were primarily hunter-gatherers, with a rich culture and mythology centered around the coyote. The Yokuts were among the first Native American tribes to encounter European settlers and suffered greatly as a result. By the late 19th century, their population had been reduced to just a few thousand. Today, there are around 5,000 Yokuts living in California, many of whom are actively working to preserve their culture and language.