Our Story
Originally from Northern California, the Carmel Band of Rumsen Indians are the ancestral people of the Monterey and Big Sur areas—and the hands and hearts that built the historic Carmel Mission. We are descendants of the Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Indians.
While historically our people were not divided into distinct tribes, we shared a rich tapestry of village groups and cultural affiliations within our overall territory. As part of the Ohlone family, we were closely related to other Rumsen village groups and neighboring Ohlone tribes.
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Some of the main Rumsen village groups included:
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Carmel Rumsen: This group lived in the Carmel River Valley and surrounding areas.
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Monterey Rumsen: This group inhabited the Monterey Bay area, including the city of Monterey.
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Soquel Rumsen: This group resided in the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Soquel Creek area.
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Watsonville Rumsen: This group occupied the Watsonville area and parts of the Pajaro Valley.
The Journey
Seeking new paths to survive and thrive, our people later migrated south to the San Gabriel Valley, beginning at the historic San Gabriel Mission.
Over the generations, our families put down deep roots and spread throughout Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. Today, we stand proud and visible—deeply active in our neighborhoods while keeping our ancestral identity unbreakable.
