Owned and Operated by the Concow Maidu Tribe of
Mooretown Rancheria

Oroville, CA
(530) 533-3625

A Brief History of the Concow Maidu Tribe

The Concow-Maidu of Mooretown Rancheria are descendants of ancient Northwestern Maidu who migrated to the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas east of Oroville in Butte County, California. They settled on the Mooretown Ridge, between the Middle Fork and South Fork of the Feather River.  The oldest verifiable occupation through scholarly and scientific research is about 1200 B.C. and about 500 B.C.  when the Maidu language developed.

The traditional Maidu boundaries were roughly from Mount Lassen and Honey Lake on the North to the Cosumnes River on the South, and from the Sacramento River on the west to the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the East.

The Concow-Maidu were primarily a hunting, fishing and gathering people with a comprehensive knowledge of the uses of the local plants and animals for food, medicine, tools, and clothing, and we are well known for our basketry.

We planted seeds and bulbs in  nearby gathering grounds, which are now called gardens. We carried on extensive trade with tribes from the coastal areas,  the Nisenan territory, Northeastern California and Nevada. We had a highly developed social order and religion that promoted a peaceful lifestyle.

During the 1800's the Federal government forcibly removed the Maidu from our homelands to reservations. The government negotiated treaties with the displaced tribes, promising many benefits in exchange for our homes and lands. Sadly, the government did not honor their agreements and the Native Americans  of Northern California have endured more than 100 years as a displaced people.

In August of 1987 The Mooretown Rancheria applied for and was granted Federal Tribal recognition. A tribal constitution was adopted and a Tribal Council elected.

The Mooretown Rancheria consists of 58 family dwellings (with another 42 scheduled for construction over the next five years), the 41,000+ square foot Feather Falls Casino, the Lodge, KOA campground, and a spacious Community Center that houses a library, day care center, after school classroom, a commercial quality kitchen, and tribal government offices. The tribe has over 1100 members.

Today the Concow Maidu of Mooretown Rancheria are active participants in collecting and preserving our native artifacts and heritage.

Success has opened many doors of opportunity for all. We are proud to share the Native American heritage with you as we continue to grow and learn more of our ancestor's.

With this, we would like to introduce these fine Native American drums made by

First Nations Drumvision