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The Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria is a federally recognized tribe of Mattole, Bear River and Wiyot people in Humboldt County, California.
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Government
The Bear River Band is headquartered in Loleta, California. Their current tribal chairperson is William Sand Tribal enrollment is based on residency on the Rohnerville Rancheria from 1910 to 1960 or being a lineal descent of those residents.
Reservation and traditional territories
The Rohnerville Rancheria is a federally recognized ranchería located in two separate parts. One (40°34′49″N 124°07′21″W) is at the eastern edge of Fortuna, and the other (40°37′53″N 124°12′11″W) to the southeast of Loleta, both in Humboldt County. As of the 2010 Census the population was 38.
The tribe's traditional territory was along the Mattole and Bear Rivers near Cape Mendocino. Wiyot people lived along the Little River down to the Bear River and 25 miles (40 km) eastward. The Mattole villages of Tcalko', Chilsheck, Selsche'ech, Tlanko, Estakana, and Sehtla were located along Bear River.
Economic development
The Bear River Band owns and operate the Bear River Casino-Hotel resort, River's Edge Restaurant, and the Thirsty Bear Sports Bar and Grill in Loleta, California.
Traditional culture
Mattole people differ from neighboring tribes because men traditionally tattooed their faces, instead of just women. Mattole spoke the Mattole language, an Athapaskan language, while Wiyots spoke the Wiyot language, an Algonquian language. Subsistence practices that continue today for ceremonial purposes include salmon fishing and gathering salt, seaweed, and shells by hand.