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Inter-Tribal Council of California (U.S.)

Native American

image by Donald Healy, 7 January 2008

The band
The flag

See also:

The Band

map image by Peter Orenski based on input from Don Healy

Inter-Tribal Council of California

With 107 federally recognized tribes either totally or partly within its borders, California has five times as many tribal entities as any other state (AID, 39-41). However, most of these tribes are extremely small and the area they control is limited. The largest of the Tribes totally within California are the Hoopa Valley and the Karuk Nations with just over 2,000 enrolled members each (ibid..). In area, the Hoopa Valley reservation is the largest with 93,000 acres.

Because of their small size and their broad distribution across California's vast area, the Native peoples coordinate their interests, concerns, and needs through the Inter-Tribal Council of California. Based in the state capital, Sacramento (REAI, 88), it acts as a voice for all California Tribes in their relationship with the state's government.

The Flag

The Inter-Tribal Council's flag is golden-yellow, recalling the state's nickname, the "Golden State". Across the top of the flag in red letters is "INTER-TRIBAL COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA, INC." and below, centered on the remaining portion of the flag, the corporate logo appears in full color.

The logo is a complex image. Facing a barely visible rising yellow sun is an Indian with upraised arms overlaying (or transforming into) a stylized bird. He has black hair, brown skin, and ochre breechcloth and sandals. His wrists have white bands, possibly affixed to the bird. The bird has wings and tail of black, white, and ochre. Its beak, rising above the Indian's head, is ochre with a black tip. The sun appears to be rising over a brown hill against a white circle. The white circle is framed by a rainbow with stripes of red (outermost), orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple (innermost).

[Thanks to NAVA member Jim Ferrigan for obtaining information about this flag.]

© Donald Healy 2008
information provided by Peter Orenski, 7 January 2008