Timothy Tyndall - Director - Camp Internet: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 7:40AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Timothy Tyndall - Director - Camp Internet: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 8:10AM PST (-0800 GMT)
There are several areas within Camp that are valuable for you to review this morning before or after the chat to help with reports. The Map of California Tribal groups is located at button
Chumash painted cave photos are at: button
Secrets of Chumash Social Life, by Dr. Johnson, is located at button
Timothy Tyndall - Director - Camp Internet: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 8:13AM PST (-0800 GMT)
The new American History GIS map has information on many tribal culture groups in North America. Goto: button and click on the American History GIS and then select the "California Inter-Mountain Group" link on the right side of the map. This will lead to information on the Chumash and other California Tribal groups.
Marcy at Camp Internet: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 8:46AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Hello Campers and Welcome Dr. Johnson. There are two very interesting scientific re-interpretations of prehistoric peoples made in recent years that are changing our understanding of the early settlement of North America............... Dr. Johnson, could you please tell us about your viewpoint on these two findings - Arlington Woman button and the California spearpoint types found in the southwest button ?
Ontario Montclair School District: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 8:48AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Question from Derek -
How old was the oldest Chumash Indian when he died?
Marcy@Camp Internet: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 8:57AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Dr. Johnson - what are these bowls and tools made from and how were they formed ?
Marcy@Camp Internet: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:04AM PST (-0800 GMT)
This little hand sized Chumash orca whale - would it have been made from Catalina sopastone ? How was it decorated and what was it used for ? Where would the Chumash have seen such a whale more often thought to live in the artic waters? (It was found on the Rincon during a road excavation in the early 1900s).
Jatima,Simon,Jackie,Justin,NightgaleMS,Mrs.Gomes,LosAngeles: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:09AM PST (-0800 GMT)
We are ready to ask our question
Marcy@Camp Internet: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:12AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Please tell us about the Museum's basket collection .. and where else can students go see the amazing artistry of Chumash baskets ? Does the Southwest Museum have a collection? Are those in the Santa Ynez Historical Society authentic?
Mrs.Gomes, Nightingale M.S. Los Angeles: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:14AM PST (-0800 GMT)
We are ready to ask our questions now.
Justin,Simon,Jackie,Jatima,NightingaleMS,Mrs.Gomes,LosAngeles: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:14AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Did you use the scientific method when you were learning about Chumash, if so, what was your conclusion after Chumash migrated?
Karen,Yareb,Kathy,Rigo,NMS: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:16AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How did the Chumash get to the island in the first place?
Chris: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:17AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School...What did they use and how did they do the swordfish dance.
Linh, Richmond, Billy, Trisha N. M.S. : . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:18AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How did the Chumash Indians perform the Swordfish Dance?
Cristal,Ernesto,Edward,Ricardo,NMS: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:19AM PST (-0800 GMT)
From what part of the world did the Chumash originally come?
Bobby Martinez: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:20AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School...Dr. Johnson, Do you like your job and what
you do?
Robert Ahumada...Mrs. Sulentor: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:20AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School...Why did the Chumash have contact with the Europeans?
Cristal,Ernesto,Edward,Ricardo,NMS: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:21AM PST (-0800 GMT)
If the chief of a tribe had died and had no children, who would take his place?
Anthony Rogosic: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:21AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School...Why did the Chumash go to the Channel Island?
Oscar, Tony, Jose, Miguel N. M.S. : . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:21AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How has the Chumash religion, traditions, culture, and way of life changed?
Tiffany,Denise,Jennifer,Lina,NMS: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:23AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Is being a anthropologist very complex when you are learning new discoveries of the origins and physical, Social-cutural developement of human beings?
Edward, Marla, Sian, Mayra N. M.S. : . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:24AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Do you think the Chumash are very cultural in different ways?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:25AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Hello, this is Dr. Johnson. There are so many good questions that I will have to pick and choose.
William,Marvin,Nicholas,Kevin,NMS: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:25AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Did the Chumash give up valuable possesions for food and better hunting weapons in desperate times?
ngale19: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:26AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How did the Chumash indians get food when it was scarce?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:26AM PST (-0800 GMT)
First, let me talk about being an anthropologist. Anthropology is the study of humans. There are four fields of anthropology: archaeology, physical anthropology, linguistics, and cultural anthropology.
Ashley, Jasmine, Minh Minh, Jennifer, Adriana,NMS: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:27AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How were the Chumash lives influenced by the nature around them?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:29AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How did the Chumash Indians get food when it was scarce? In times of food shortages, they wood trade their bead money to other villages that had more food.
Leo Russo: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:30AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School... Have you ever met the Chumush Indians?
Silvia - Paradise Homeschool: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:30AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Dr. Johnson - do the Chumash put on seasonal ceremonial events like the Hopi or Navajo?
Jeffrey,Reggie,Daniel,Presley: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:30AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How did the Chumash find food when there was no more hunters or food?
Dan, Annie, Stephanie, Erickson, Elizabeth,NMS: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:30AM PST (-0800 GMT)
What will be the consequence if you betray your tribe, the Chumash?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:30AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How were the Chumash lives influenced by the nature around them? They had to adapt themselves to the seasons. In the summer, fishing was very good. In the fall, acorns and other wild nuts were harvested. In the late spring, there were many kinds of seed crops that were gathered. The winter was the time of greatest scarcity.
Rm 46@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:30AM PST (-0800 GMT)
We are gladly joining the chat this morning.
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:32AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Have I ever met the Chumush Indians? Yes, I work with Chumash Indians all the time here at the museum. Chumash representatives consult with the museum about our research, collections, exhibits, and public programs. I am helping a Chumash woman publish a bilingual children's book that tells a Chumash legend.
Alex Bristol: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:32AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School...How did you get interested in the Chumash?
Ellen Evanow: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:33AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School...Now where do most of the Chumash people live?
Nicole, Janny, Julie, Brissa N. M.S. : . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:33AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Where did the word Chumash come from? What does the word stand for?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:34AM PST (-0800 GMT)
What will be the consequence if you betray your tribe, the Chumash? Well, the Chumash Indians did not think of themselves as one tribe. Their allegiance was to their lineage and to the village community where they lived. If someone betrayed the trust of their village, then they would have to move elsewhere and would not be allowed to return.
Rm 46@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:34AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Are there any canoe today being used
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:36AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Now where do most of the Chumash people live?
Chumash Indian descendants live throughout the United States, but most live in the region of their former tribal territory, especially Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties in California. There is one reservation, the Santa Ynez Indian Reservation, where about 300 people live. Others live off the reservation in their own homes.
Xavier@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:37AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Is there a Chumash community right now
Simon, Jessenia, Josie, Carlos N. M.S. : . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:38AM PST (-0800 GMT)
If the Chumash didn't know how to make canoes how would it have affected their way of life?
Chris,Alex: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:38AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School...Are you interested in any other tribe beside the Chumash?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:39AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Where did the word Chumash come from? What does the word stand for? The word Chumash comes from the word that the mainland Indians had for the people of the Northern Channel Islands. Chumash really meant 'island Indian' in the old times. It came from the word 'alchum, meaning 'bead money', because the Island Chumash made the shell beads that were used as money by all of the other Indians in our area. Thus Chumash means something like 'bead money makers'.
Kimberly@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:41AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How did you know exactly where to look for Chumash artifacts?
Chris,Robert: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:41AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School... How long have you been studing the Chumash life?
Joseph de Alba: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:41AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School... Did the Chumash get allong with other Indians?
Dakota: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:41AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School... Why were the Chumash a matriarchal society? Are they still?
Shelley, Alejandra, Katherine N. M.S. : . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:42AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Does the way the Chumash Indians live now reflect the way they used to live?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:42AM PST (-0800 GMT)
If the Chumash didn't know how to make canoes how would it have affected their way of life?
The plank canoe (called tomol or tomolo) was a very important part of Chumash life. It was used for fishing. Each canoe's catch of fish fed about 40 people. The canoes were used in transportation, especially around the Channel Islands, and between the islands and the mainland. Finally, the canoes were used in trade, which helped prevent food shortages.
Arbor@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:42AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Were the bones found of the Chumash woman any different from the bones we have now a days?
Jeffrey,Reggie,Daniel,Presley: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:42AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How did the Chumash find food when there was no more hunters or food?
Tyler Fiamengo: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:43AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School... Did the Chumash use bows and arrows?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:44AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Am I interested in any other tribe beside the Chumash? Yes, I have studied and worked with Indians all over Southern California. As an anthropologist, I am interested in Indian tribes all over North America, because it helps me to compare differences and similiarities in peoples' cultures and gives us insight into our own culture.
Danielle: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:45AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School....What types of toys did the Chumash children use?
Xavier@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:46AM PST (-0800 GMT)
What celebrations did the Chumash have that we can relate too?
Garrity McOsker: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:46AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School... What is the best part of your job?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:46AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Why were the Chumash a matriarchal society? Are they still? The Chumash were not a matriarchal society. Matriarchy means that the women were in charge, and this is not the case for the Chumash. However, the Chumash were a matrilocal society, meaning that when a couple was married, the husband would leave his home and go to build his house among the relatives of his wife.
Kelsie Fernandez: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:47AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School... Did the Chumash worship gods?
Marissa@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:48AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Did the children sleep in the same hut as parent?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:48AM PST (-0800 GMT)
What celebrations did the Chumash have that we can relate too?
The Chumash celebrated a Fall Harvest Ceremony (called "Hutash") that is much like our Thanksgiving. The most important ceremony was their Winter Solsice Ceremony, called "Kakunupmawa," the rebirth of the sun. This was held around the time we celebrate Christmas.
Jamie Gross: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:48AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School....What tools did they use to get food?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:49AM PST (-0800 GMT)
There are so many good questions that it is hard for me to keep up.
: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:49AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Ontario Montclair School District: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 8:48AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Question from Derek - How old was the oldest Chumash Indian when he died?
Meghan: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:50AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School...What was the childrens' education like?
Mohmmed@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:50AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Did the Chumash name their children after birth like we do?
: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:50AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Chris: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:17AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School...What did they use and how did they do the swordfish dance.............
Linh, Richmond, Billy, Trisha N. M.S. : . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:18AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How did the Chumash Indians perform the Swordfish Dance?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:50AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Did the Chumash use bows and arrows? What tools did they use to get food?
The Chumash used bows and arrows in hunting. They used harpoons, fish spears, nets, and fishhooks on lines for fishing.
Marissa@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:51AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Did Chumash children go to school?
: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:51AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Cristal,Ernesto,Edward,Ricardo,NMS: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:19AM PST (-0800 GMT)
From what part of the world did the Chumash originally come?..............
: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:51AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Cristal,Ernesto,Edward,Ricardo,NMS: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:21AM PST (-0800 GMT)
If the chief of a tribe had died and had no children, who would take his place?
Brandon : . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:52AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School...Do you know any Chumash people?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:52AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How did the Chumash Indians perform the Swordfish Dance?
The dancer wore a headdress made from the skull of a swordfish. The eyes were decorated with pendants made from the glistening shell of the abalone. A short "cape" of abalone pendants hung from the back of the headdress. Two batons (carved sticks painted red) were tapped together while the dancer whirled like a swordfish in the water.
Kimberly@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:52AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How did they cook their food?
Xavier@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:53AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Did the Chumash have war?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:54AM PST (-0800 GMT)
If the chief of a tribe had died and had no children, who would take his place?
All the evidence that we have points to the mother's lineage as being the most important unit of Chumash society. Thus, when a chief died and he had no children, one among his sister's children might be chosen chief. The Chumash had women chiefs as well as men chiefs.
Marissa@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:54AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Who took care of the children without parents/
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:56AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Did the Chumash have war?
Yes, there was quite a bit of warfare among different Chumash towns and villages. Chiefs would form alliances among villages by marrying into each other's families, so they could call upon their relatives in neighboring towns to protect themselves when their villages were attacked.
Xavier@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:56AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Did the Chumash have wedding when they got married?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:57AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Who took care of the children without parents?
A child who didn't have parents would be adopted and raised by his relatives, especially his relatives who belonged to his mother's lineage.
Bobby Martinez: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:57AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School... How far did the Chumash go out to sea?
Dakota: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:57AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School... Why did the husbands live with the wives family and not with the husband and wife?
Arbor@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:58AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Did the skelton of the Chumash woman have the same bone structure that we have
Aurora: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:58AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy TrinitySchool...Why do Chumash cheifs have more than one wife?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:58AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Did the Chumash have wedding when they got married?
Yes, there would be a ceremony and dancing when a couple got married. The husband's would bring food to the wife's family to help with the feast.
Mohammed@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 9:58AM PST (-0800 GMT)
What did they do with dead people?
Danielle: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:01AM PST (-0800 GMT)
What types of toys did the Chumash children use?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:02AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Did the skelton of the Chumash woman have the same bone structure that we have?
Ah, you must be talking about the of the ancient woman's bones that were found in 1959 on Santa Rosa Island at a place called Arlington Springs. Only three bones were preserved and we have determined these to be 13,000 years old. Her bones are the oldest ever dated in North America. From measurements on these bones, we can tell that Arlington Springs Woman stood about 5 feet tall. Her bones were structured just like ours are -- she belonged to our same human race.
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:03AM PST (-0800 GMT)
What did they do with dead people?
The Chumash Indians buried their dead in a crouching position, accompanied by things they used in their lives. Oftentimes, shell beads are found in the graves. Other Southern California Indians practiced cremation.
William: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:04AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School...How did the Chumash travel over land?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:05AM PST (-0800 GMT)
What types of toys did the Chumash children use?
The Chumash played many types of games. They made "dice" from walnut shells with beads pressed into tar inside the shells. They played a game called shinny that involved throwing a spear through a hoop.
Natalie: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:06AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School... What was your wife's name?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:06AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How did the Chumash travel over land?
There were trails between all of the villages on land by which they would travel on foot. The Chumash usually went barefoot, but sometimes would wear a simple sandle.
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:06AM PST (-0800 GMT)
What was your wife's name?
My wife's name is Mary.
Mohammed@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:07AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Why did they bury them in a crouching position?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:09AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Why did the husbands live with the wives family and not with the husband and wife? You have misunderstood me. The wife and husband would live together in their own house with their children, but they would live near the houses of the wife's parents and the wife's sisters. Oftentimes, the husband would have to move to a different village when he married.
Sean McKenna: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:09AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School...How old are the Chumash? How did the Chumash get her? What are some of their native ways? Did they have close?
Arbor@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:09AM PST (-0800 GMT)
What was the name of their God?
Stephanie: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:10AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Did the Chumash indians have a special jewlery that they always would wear?
Jamie: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:10AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School... What kind of tools did the Chumash use?
Frank: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:10AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinty School ... How many Chumash people were in each tribe?
Ms. Lesko@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:10AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How did they create their own language?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:11AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Why did they bury them in a crouching position?
They would not need to dig as big a grave for someone buried in a crouching position. The Chumash did not have shovels. They had only sharpened sticks they would use for digging, so it was difficult to dig big holes.
Meghan : . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:12AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School... What was the childrens' education like?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:12AM PST (-0800 GMT)
What was the name of their God? The Chumash name for God was Shup, which also meant 'Mother Earth'.
Aurora: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:12AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School... When did you open the Chumash Museum?
Nicholas: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:13AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School... Did the Chumash date? What age did they get married?
Aurora: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:14AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School... When did you open the Chumash Museum?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:14AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How did they create their own language? There is more than one Chumash language, and linguists (anthropologists who study languages) tell us that their language family is an ancient one with no known links to other American Indian language families. Probably their language slowly changed over many thousands of years after they arrived in California and eventually there language became so different from other languages that were also changing that today we can no longer see how they once were related.
Tony: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:16AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School... Did the Chumash go to war?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:16AM PST (-0800 GMT)
When did you open the Chumash Museum? Our museum is the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. It was founded in 1916. In 1923 a curator of anthropology was hired who conducted archaeological excavations along the Santa Barbara Coast. His name was David Banks Rogers. He is the one who began to build our museum's Chumash collection.
Mohammed@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:17AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How did they communicate when they were trading?
Jake: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:18AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School...How did they bathe?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:20AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Did the Chumash date? What age did they get married? When a young man was interested in a girl he would let her know. If she returned his affections, then he would do work for her parents to show them that he was a worthy husband for their daughter. A Chumash couple would marry when they were young. The average age of marriage would be about 15 or 16 years of age for a young woman and 18 to 20 years of age for a young man. This seems too young to us today, but one must remember that the average life expectancy was much lower in prehistoric times.
Ms. J@Grant Elem: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:20AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Thank you for your time Dr. Johnson, we really enjoyed it!
Daniel: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:20AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School... Who was the Chumash's enemy?
Students from Mrs. Gomes' class NMS: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:21AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Dr Johnson, we as a class are very sorry that two people use such poor judgment. This is the only problem we had. They acted without permission.
Stephanie: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:21AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity...... Did the Chumash Indians have a speicial kind of jewelery that they would wear when they had speicial occasions?
Aurora : . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:21AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School...Why did the Chumash chiefs have more than one wife?
Zoe : . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:23AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School... How did the Chumash Indians become interested in singing and chanting? Did they learn as a child?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:23AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How did they bathe?
The Chumash Indians used what is commonly called a sweathouse for bathing. This was something like a sauna. They would build a cave-like structure that was dug partly into a hillside or into the ground and partly cover it with earth. A small campfire was built inside to heat the interior. People would go inside and after they began to perspire, they would run and plunge into a cool pool of water nearby.
Jamie: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:24AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School...What kind of tools did the Chumash use ?
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:25AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How did the Chumash Indians become interested in singing and chanting? Did they learn as a child? The Chumash children would learn the songs at the ceremonies and dances they attended. Also, their parents would sing to them when they told them myths and stories. There were often songs sung as part of the telling of stories.
Dylan : . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:26AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School..Did the Chumash ever have a formal education?
Zoe and Stephanie: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:27AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity...Did the Chumash Indians have makeup and how did they get the makeup?
Students from Mrs. Gomes' class NMS: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:28AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Dr Johnson, we as a class are very sorry that two people use such poor judgment. This is the only problem we had. They acted without permission.
Aurora: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:28AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:29AM PST (-0800 GMT)
What kind of tools did the Chumash use? I have partly answered this question previously when I talked about hunting tools and the use of digging sticks, but I will add a little more here. Women would use bone awls for weaving baskets and bone needles for sewing. Men would use beautifully fashioned knives made of a flint-like material called chert. These knives were set in wooden handles. People would use sharp flakes of stone for cutting and scraping, and hard rocks as hammerstones. Stone mortars and pestles were used by women to process acorns and wild seeds.
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:31AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Did the Chumash ever have a formal education? They did not have formal schools. Chumash children would learn from their parents how to behave and how to hunt, fish, and gather wild foods. Girls would learn how to weave baskets from their mothers. Elders in the tribe would teach the children about the religious beliefs and legends.
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:32AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Did the Chumash ever have a formal education? They did not have formal schools. Chumash children would learn from their parents how to behave and how to hunt, fish, and gather wild foods. Girls would learn how to weave baskets from their mothers. Elders in the tribe would teach the children about the religious beliefs and legends.
Dr. Johnson: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:33AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Thank you all for your good questions. I have enjoyed meeting with you this morning and discussing the fascinating culture of the Chumash Indians. I will use the Chumash expression for good-bye: Kiwanan.
Aurora: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:43AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Holy Trinity School... Did the Chumash Indians hunt at nighttime?
Marcy @ Camp Internet: . . . . Wed, Nov 6, 10:47AM PST (-0800 GMT)
THANKS EVERYONE for PARTICIPATING - Great Chat! Kiwanan ....