Costanoan

/kɒstəˈnoʊən/ noun, adjective

Definition

Relating to a Native American people of coastal California, or their language, historically living in the San Francisco Bay Area region.

Etymology

From Spanish name 'Los Costeños' (coast people) applied by Spanish colonizers to these Native Californians, combining Spanish costa (coast) with -an (relating to).

Kelly Says

The Costanoan people were named by Spanish colonizers as 'the coast people,' but we don't even know what they called themselves—it's a reminder that many Indigenous names are actually colonial labels that erased original identities.

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