Who were the indigenous people primarily inhabiting California prior to European contact?

The indigenous people primarily inhabiting California prior to European contact were indeed a diverse range of tribes, including the Yurok, Miwok, and Chumash. This choice accurately reflects the rich cultural and linguistic diversity of California's Native American peoples, which comprised over 100 distinct tribes, each with their own languages, traditions, and social structures. The Yurok, known for their fishing and river navigation, resided in the northwestern part of the state along the Klamath River. The Miwok occupied areas of the central Sierra Nevada and the coastal regions, while the Chumash lived along the southern coast and Channel Islands, deeply connected to the maritime environment.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the indigenous groups found in California. The Sioux and Cheyenne are associated with the Great Plains, the Pueblo people are primarily linked to the Southwestern United States, and the Navajo and Apache inhabit the areas of the Southwest, particularly New Mexico and Arizona. None of these tribes originally occupied the territory or had cultural ties to California before European contact, highlighting the importance of understanding the specific indigenous populations that existed in this particular region.