SERI

a tribe of Mexican Indians who live on Tiburn Island in the Gulf of California and on the adjacent mainland in Sonora. Their language seems to be related to the Yuman languages, and both are commonly assigned to the hypothetical Hokan super-stock. The 300 to 400 surviving Seri in the late 20th century constituted a single community composed of the remnants of several groups. Although the Seri now engage in commercial fishing and farm labour, traditionally they lived by gathering, hunting, or fishing for such edibles as shellfish, turtles, pelicans, and cactus fruit. Their simple cane spears, hunting bows, pebble tools, and crude dwellings of twigs and cacti earned them a reputation as being among the most primitive aboriginal groups of North America. They did, however, produce pottery, basketry, and boat-shaped rush rafts. The Seri lived in mobile bands of not more than 50 individuals. There were no formal band leaders and no social units larger than the band. Shamans, or medicine men, whose powers derived from dreams and visions, were important. After an unsuccessful missionary attempt in the 18th century, the Seri were little influenced by Europeans. Although their population has declined, they retain most of their aboriginal social and religious customs.