Where We Come From — Rumsen People & The Land
Today linguists recognize the following eight Ohlone (Costanoan) languages, which are part of a larger language family known as Penutian. From north to south, they are:
Karkin (Carquinez Strait region of SF Bay estuary)
Ramaytush (SF Peninsula)
Chochenyo (East Bay)
Tamien (Santa Clara Valley)
Awaswas (Santa Cruz area)
Mutsun (Watsonville, Gilroy, San Juan Bautista, Hollister)
Rumsen (Monterey Peninsula, Lower Carmel Valley, Salinas, Toro Creek, coast south of Carmel River to at least Palo Colorado Canyon, possibly as far as Andrew Molera)
Chalon (Mission Soledad area extending to Pinnacles)
Esselen, from a different language family (Hokan), was spoken by tribes in five territories south of Monterey. Refer to the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County for more information.
Ohlone Language Speakers
Isabel Meadows
The five affiliated Rumsen villages are:
Achista, at Monterey, very likely at today’s Monterey Peninsula College campus
Tucutnut, at present day Quail Golf Course, near Rancho San Carlos Road and Carmel Valley Road, near the confluence of Potrero Creek and Carmel River
Shokronta (aka Soccoronda), in Carmel Valley near the juncture of Robinson Canyon Road and Carmel Valley Road, at the site of the current Carmel Valley Ranch and Golf Course
Echilat, on San Francisquito Flat, south of the Carmel River Valley, encompassing the area along Garzas Creek that includes the present-day Hacienda on the Santa Lucia Preserve
Ishxenta, a district along San Jose creek and environs, including present day Point Lobos