Native Uses of Marine Mammals on Santa Cruz
and San Miguel Islands by Dr. R. Colten
and San Miguel Islands by Dr. R. Colten
The Channel Islands has the largest population of pinnipeds on the West Coast. It is no surprise that the Native Americans used these animals to aid
in their survival. These animals were
easy to capture as
they gathered in groups on the shore. In addition to
the pinnepeds, cetacean and otters were used for
food as well as raw materials. Santa Cruz has a
lower altitude and is the most diverse ecologically.
Bones of fish, birds and land mammals were found around
the living sites of the Chumash on Santa Cruz. It is
believed that fish, shellfish, mammals, and marine
mammals were consumed, listed here in order of highest
consumption. In periods of El Nino, when the waters warm
and the food supply for the pennipeds are reduced, so
are the supply of pennipeds. It was fortunate to have
had such an abundance of food supply. Their food
supply also came from migratory animals of which there
were many at certain times of the year. But seals and
sea lions were the most abundant year round. In years
of decreased availability of the food supply due to
environmental conditions or over hunting, beads were used
for money andtrade.
Dr. Colten's research has led him to conclude that boats were
created by the Native Americans to make their hunting of marine animals
easier.
Listen to Dr. Colten's Lecture
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