The Chumash people are the Native Americans who lived in Ventura prior to the immigration by European and Mexican people. Chumash lived along the coast and inland valleys from Morro Bay down to Malibu, and had settlements on the Channel Islands. The local band of Chumash was called Ventureño by the missionaries. Prior to European contact, the Chumash were the wealthiest and likely the most powerful tribe in California.
The San Buenaventura Mission was founded by Father Serra to reeducate these native peoples in European ways. Whether this was for good or ill, the end effect was the loss of much of the traditional Chumash culture and a high mortality rate due to infectious diseases.
About 5,000 people today identify themselves as Chumash. The tribe is probably most known today for the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, the closest Indian Casino to Ventura.
As part of the fictitious fantasy backstory of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, they were referenced repeatedly and appeared in some episodes.
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