The Mechoopda are a tribe of Maidu people, an

Indigenous people of California Indigenous peoples of California, commonly known as Indigenous Californians or Native Californians, are a diverse group of nations and peoples that are indigenous to the geographic area within the current boundaries of California before and afte ...

. They are enrolled in the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, a

federally recognized tribe A federally recognized tribe is a Native American tribe recognized by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs as holding a government-to-government relationship with the US federal government. In the United States, the Native American tribe ...

. Historically, the tribe has spoken Konkow, a language related to the Maidu language, and as of 2010, has created digital learning materials from old recordings of Emma Cooper, made during the 1940s as a part of the

war effort War effort is a coordinated mobilization of society's resources—both industrial and civilian—towards the support of a military force, particular during a state of war. Depending on the militarization of the culture, the relative si ...

. The tribe was formerly centered in a village located about south of contemporary

Chico, California Chico ( ; Spanish language, Spanish for "little") is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. Located in the Sacramento Valley region of Northern California, the city had a population of 101,475 in the 2020 United Sta ...

. The Tribe was terminated in 1967, losing its 26-acre Chico Rancheria. Today, approximately one-half of the old Chico Rancheria is now owned by California State University, Chico (CSUC). The 11-acre university-owned portion of the former reservation is used by CSUC's agriculture, anthropology, and archaeology students. The Mechoopda regained federal recognition in 1992.

Government

The Mechoopda Indian Tribe ratified their constitution on 1 February 1998. The tribe is governed by a seven-member council. The current administration is as follows: * Tribal Chairman: Dennis Ramirez * Vice Chairperson: Sandra Knight: * Treasurer: He-Lo Ramirez * Secretary: Roberta Lewis * Member-at-Large: Barbara Rose * Member-at-Large: Isaiah Meders * Member-at-Large: Jenny Atkins"Tribal Government."
''Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Ranchería. Tribal Council.'' Retrieved 13 July 2016.

Reservation

The Chico Ranchería is a federal reservation located in Butte County. The population of the tribe is 560; the population on the

ranchería The Spanish word ranchería, or rancherío, refers to a small, rural settlement. In the Americas the term was applied to Indigenous peoples of the Americas, native villages or bunkhouses. Anglo-Americans adopted the term with both these meaning ...

is approximately 70. Chico is the closest town."California Indians and Their Reservations: Chico Rancheria."
''San Diego State University Library and Information Access.'' Retrieved 31 August 2012.

Notes

External links

Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria
official website

history
University Signs Agreement with Mechoopda Tribe
{{authority control Maidu Federally recognized tribes in the United States Native American tribes in California Chico, California Butte County, California