The Table Mountain Rancheria is a federally recognized tribe of Native American people from the Chukchansi band of Yokuts and the Monache tribe. It is also the tribe's ranchería, located in Fresno County, California.[1]
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 140–160 enrolled members 11 reservation population[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( California) | |
| Languages | |
| English, Yokuts language | |
| Religion | |
| traditional tribal religion, Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Yokuts and Monache tribes[2] |
Reservation
editFounded in 1916,[2] the Table Mountain Rancheria is 61 acres (250,000 m2) large and in Fresno County, near Friant, California. The reservation population is approximately eleven people, with 34 tribal members living in the general area.[1]
Government
editThe tribe's headquarters is in Friant, and their tribal chairperson is Michelle Heredia-Cordova.[3]
Cultural Resources
editThe Cultural Resources Department was formed in 1997 as a division of the Table Mountain Rancheria Tribal Government in part to help develop a Cultural Center and Museum, and record and preserve oral history, language and stories. The Museum Collections at Table Mountain Rancheria began when Tribal Elders from the area would occasionally bring up baskets to Tribal Council to sell. Over the last century and a half, much of the priceless Tribal heritage has found its way into private collections as well. The Tribe has made every effort to bring these pieces of our shared heritage home.
Since 1996, this collection of Native American art has grown to include baskets from over 20 different Tribes or Tribal groups in California. Work is under way to complete traditional village exhibits on our Native Plant Trail, developed in partnership with the Tribal Youth Council. Table Mountain hopes to open the doors to a new Cultural Center and Museum in the near future.[4]
Language
editHaw lesh ma’ and Munahoo are standard greetings from two distinctly different Native American languages at Table Mountain Rancheria. The old language, Gashowu, is a dialect of the Yokuts language, similar to Tachi and Chukchansi. The Mono language is also spoken here.[4]
Economic development
editThe tribe owns and operates Table Mountain Casino and Resort and Eagle Springs Golf Course, both in Friant. Table Mountain Casino Resort includes a casino, twelve story hotel, Eagle's Landing Steakhouse, Sukai Teppanyaki restaurant (above the hotel tower), Blue Oak Grille, Native Gathering Grounds coffee shop, and a few fast service restaurants all in a single building.[5]
On July 21, 2022, the new Table Mountain Casino and Resort opened to the public. The old casino building is planned to be used as employee offices. [1]
Notes
edit- ^ a b c "California Indians and Their Reservations: T." San Diego State University Library and Information Access. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ a b Pritzker, 159
- ^ "Tribal Council". TABLE MOUNTAIN RANCHERIA. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ a b "Cultural Resources". TABLE MOUNTAIN RANCHERIA. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "Table Mountain." 500 Nations. (retrieved 27 May 2010)
References
edit- Eargle, Jr., Dolan H. California Indian Country: The Land and the People. San Francisco: Tree Company Press, 1992. ISBN 0-937401-20-X.
- Pritzker, Barry M. A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0-19-513877-1.