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You are here: Home / California History / Salinan Tribe Facts

Salinan Tribe Facts

By Damian Bacich

Salinan Boat
Salinan people built boats like these to navigate central California waterways. From the Mission San Miguel Arcángel museum (Damian Bacich/CaliforniaFrontier.net).

Home region: Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, around the Salinas River and its tributaries, as well as the Coast Range.

Language group: Hokan

Mission affiliations: San Antonio de Padua, Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, San Miguel Arcángel

Historical background: There were probably as many as 21 Salinan villages in the extending just south of Mission La Soledad to the north of San Luis Obispo.

The Salinans had good trade relations with the Yokuts of the Central Valley, but with their closer Ohlone neighbors there seems to have been a good deal of hostility.

During the time of the missions, Salinans were often known as either Migueleños because of their association of Mission San Miguel Arcángel, or Antoniaños, because of Mission San Antonio de Padua.

Today: Today, many Salinan people still live in the area of their ancestors, Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties, and are active in the local mission communities, especially those of San Antonio de Padua and San Miguel.

Filed Under: California History

About Damian Bacich

Damian Bacich, Ph.D. writes about California and the West. He is also a professor, translator and historical researcher. You can learn more about Damian here.

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