ABSTRACT
Power was manifested in a variety of realms among California Indian societies, with some individuals having greater access to wealth, knowledge, and privilege than others. Power is often distinguished from authority as it implies some type of threat, such as physical harm or supernatural sanction. This chapter presents the case study of two groups in California, the Chumash of the Santa Barbara Channel region and the Patwin of central California. The coastal Chumash had a heavy reliance on marine resources, including fish, shellfish, and sea mammals, as well as acorns. The Chumash differed from the Patwin in that their fishing endeavours did not require as much coordination of labor, nor did their subsistence activities have the same potential for affecting large neighboring settlements. The Kuksu society was the focus of both ritual and political organization, but instead of only one level of membership, three levels of secret society membership were recognized.
