Tejon Indian Tribe of California


The Tejon Indian Tribe of California is a federally recognized tribe of Kitanemuk, Yokuts, and Chumash indigenous people of California.
Their ancestral homeland is the southern San Joaquin Valley, San Emigdio Mountains, and Tehachapi Mountains. Today they live in Kern County, California.

Government

The tribe's headquarters are located in Wasco and Bakersfield, California. They are governed by a democratically–elected tribal council. their tribal chairwoman is Kathryn Montes Morgan and their vice-chairman is Jim Appodaca.

Reservation

The Sebastian Indian Reservation was established in 1853 by Edward F. Beale on Rancho El Tejon lands, that became part of the Tejon Ranch. It was the first Indian reservation in California. At its establishment it was 763,000 acres large but was reduced to 25,000 acres. 2,000 Indians lived on the land. However, in 1863 Beale purchased Rancho El Tejon for his private use. 100 Indians stayed on his lands when the reservation was dissolved. Many Indians were forcibly relocated at gunpoint to a new reservation which was established near Porterville in Tulare County.