Tolowa

The Tolowa Native Americans historically inhabited around 640 square miles of the extreme northwestern corner of California and the southern tip of Oregon in present-day Del Norte County. Rugged hills reaching over 7,000 feet in elevation and steep river valleys dissect this area with several different environments: grasses and shrubs beside the coast, dense redwood groves within the fog belt, and pine and Douglas fir forests in the higher elevations. The word Tolowa is a Yurok designation for “those people who live at Lake Earl.” Traditionally, the Tolowa Native Americans spoke an Athapaskan language, although they did also have aspects of their Algonquian speaking Yurok and Hokan speaking Karok indigenous peoples. Prior to Euroamerican contact, the Tolowa Native Americans are estimated to have numbered around 2,400; today there are over 450 known Tolowa Native Americans.

Name: Tolowa. The word Tolowa is a Yurok designation for “those people who live at Lake Earl.” Historically they have also been referred to as the Tollowa, Tolewah, Yantucket, and Smith River Indians.

Location: Del Norte County in northwestern California.

Population: Prior to Euroamerican contact around 2,400; today there are over 450 known Tolowa Native Americans.

Language Family: Athapaskan.

First Contact by Euroamericans: The first recorded contact took place in 1828.

Current Tribal Status: The cultural spirit of the Tolowa Native Americans is alive and well, and currently they are seeking federal recognition.

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