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Native Americans of Los Angeles, Nicoleno, San Nicoleno Island, Channel Islands (3700 BC - 78 BC) This was a really neat discovery. I found 5 ancient Native American samples I share dna with. All of the skeletons were from different time periods, between 3700 BC and 78 BC. When checking their ethnicities, all were Indian. These ones, call the Nicoleno, lived on San Nicoleno Island 61 miles directly off the coast of Los Angeles. They inhabited the island for over 10,000 years, before the Christian missionaries removed them during the 1800's, and they went extinct. Fuck the Christian Missionaries for being genocidal Nazis. Also screw the Russians who massacred them in 1811, before that. But, how amazing is it to be deeply connected to Los Angeles through the local Native Americans? Now, every time I go to the beach, I can look out at the ocean, in the far distance, where my ancient Indian ancestors once lived. More about the Nicolenos and San Nicolas Island below. GROK 3: The Indian tribe that lived on San Nicolas Island in California was the Nicoleño. They were a Uto-Aztecan people closely related to the Tongva of the mainland and nearby islands like Santa Catalina. The Nicoleño inhabited the island for at least 10,000 years until their population was decimated by a massacre in 1811 and most survivors were removed to the mainland in 1835. The island’s isolation and arid climate, with limited freshwater sources, influenced the Nicoleño’s resourcefulness. They relied heavily on the surrounding ocean, which provided abundant marine life, including fish, sea mammals, and shellfish, as well as materials for tools and trade. Culture and Lifestyle Subsistence and Economy: The Nicoleño were skilled hunter-gatherers and fishers, sustaining themselves through: Marine Resources: They harvested fish, seals, sea lions, abalone, and other shellfish. They used nets, bone hooks, and possibly small boats or rafts for fishing. Terrestrial Resources: The island had limited plant life, but they gathered seeds, roots, and bulbs. Small mammals like foxes may have been hunted. Trade: They engaged in trade with the Tongva and Chumash, exchanging shell beads, fish, and sea otter pelts for mainland goods like acorns and obsidian. Technology and Tools: The Nicoleño crafted tools from bone, stone, and shells. They likely used plank canoes or rafts similar to the Chumash tomol for fishing and possibly inter-island travel, though evidence is sparse. Their shell beads were a valuable trade item, often used as currency among Southern California tribes. Social Structure: Little is known about their social organization, but like the Tongva, they likely lived in small, kin-based villages with a chief or headman. Their population before European contact is estimated to have been 300–500, based on archaeological evidence and mission records. Spirituality and Art: Their religious practices probably resembled those of the Tongva, involving shamans, rituals tied to nature, and possibly the use of sacred sites. Archaeological finds include shell ornaments and stone artifacts, suggesting artistic expression through jewelry and tool decoration. Historical Context Pre-Contact Period: The Nicoleño thrived on San Nicolas for millennia, developing a sustainable lifestyle suited to their island. Archaeological sites, including middens (shell mounds), reveal a long history of occupation, with radiocarbon dating indicating human presence as early as 8,000–10,000 years ago. European Contact: Spanish explorers, starting with Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in 1542, likely made brief contact with the Nicoleño, but significant interaction began with the Spanish mission system in the late 18th century. The Nicoleño were not directly missionized like the Tongva, due to their remote location, but their population was affected by disease and disruptions in trade networks caused by Spanish colonization. Decline and Tragedy 1811 Massacre: The Nicoleño population was devastated by a violent attack around 1811, perpetrated by Russian-led Aleut hunters seeking sea otter pelts. The hunters, working for the Russian-American Company, clashed with the Nicoleño, killing most of the men and taking women and children captive. This reduced the tribe to a few dozen survivors. 1835 Evacuation: In 1835, the Mexican government (California was under Mexican rule after 1821) sent a schooner, the Peor es Nada, to remove the remaining Nicoleño to the mainland, likely to Mission San Gabriel or San Fernando. Most were integrated into mission life or local communities, where they faced disease, forced labor, and cultural erasure. The "Lone Woman": One Nicoleño woman, later called Juana Maria, was left behind during the 1835 evacuation, possibly because she returned to the island to find her child. She lived alone on San Nicolas for 18 years (1835–1853), surviving by fishing, gathering, and crafting shelters. In 1853, she was found by a fur trapper, George Nidever, and brought to Santa Barbara. Unable to communicate (her dialect was unintelligible to Tongva speakers), she died of dysentery seven weeks later. Her story inspired Scott O’Dell’s novel Island of the Blue Dolphins. Archaeological and Cultural Legacy Archaeological Evidence: San Nicolas Island has numerous archaeological sites, including village remains, middens, and burial grounds. These sites have yielded tools, beads, and fishhooks, providing insight into Nicoleño life. The island’s restricted status as a U.S. Navy facility has limited excavations but also preserved many sites from looting. Cultural Continuity: The Nicoleño have no federally recognized descendants today, as their population was absorbed into the Tongva or other groups, or lost to disease and assimilation. However, modern Tongva communities honor the Nicoleño as part of their shared heritage, and efforts to preserve their history continue through cultural revitalization and archaeological studies. Juana Maria’s Legacy: The Lone Woman’s story remains a poignant symbol of resilience and loss. Her belongings, including a basket and clothing, are preserved at institutions like the Peabody Museum at Harvard. Her life has been commemorated in literature, education, and Native American storytelling. Modern Context San Nicolas Island is currently a U.S. Navy missile testing range, off-limits to the public, which complicates efforts to study or visit Nicoleño sites. The Tongva and other Native groups advocate for greater access to Channel Islands for cultural and historical purposes. The Nicoleño story underscores the broader impact of colonialism on California’s indigenous peoples, with ongoing discussions about repatriation of artifacts and recognition of Native histories.

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