From initial research into California's rich heritage, the two minority groups that have stood out as particularly influential in historic California and today's society are Native Americans and Hispanic Americans. To better understand and identify with these minority groups we must identify common themes in their daily lives. By researching each culture's common family traditions, religious beliefs, arts, entertainment, and language you can gain a greater appreciation of many different types of people and, in turn, have more effective relationships in a multicultural society. Hispanics make up the largest minority group in California. They make up 37.6% of the total population (U.S. Census, 2011). The term Hispanic defines a population of Spanish-speaking individuals from Cuba, Mexico, South America, Puerto Rico and Spain. The family is the most important social unit of Hispanic life. It is a united entity that includes immediate and extended family members. Typically, the father is the head of the family and the mother rules the home (Clutter, n.d.). Holidays are usually taken at relatives' homes to encourage conviviality in the celebrations of birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduations and communions. In times of need, family is the first line of help, and Hispanics typically live with their parents until marriage. While this deviates from American ideals for individuals between the ages of 18 and 35, it actually offers young adults the opportunity for future success because so much money is saved due to significantly reduced housing costs (Williams, 2009 ). Recent immigrant parents often learn English from their children. Over 70% of Hispanic Americans in California are English language learners (ELL) and receive the resources...... central to documents......ges, territories and names of California tribes. Ethnohistory, 15(4), 418. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. (Primary) Forbes, J (1982) American Indians of California and Nevada. Detroit: Naturegraph Publishers. (Primary) Parker, A. C. (1975). The Indian book How. New York: Dover Publications. (Secondary)Sowell, T. (1981). Ethnic America: A History. New York: Basic Books. (Secondary) The book of world facts. (n.d.). Central intelligence agency. Retrieved August 12, 2011, from https://www.cia.gov (Primary)Williams, Norma. (2009). The Mexican-American family: Tradition and change. New York: General Hall. (Primary)This old house has become the hub of community life. (n.d.). toledoblade.com -- The Blade ~ Toledo California. Retrieved August 12, 2011, from http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?Avis=TO&Kategori=SRLATINO13&Dato=20001017&Lopenr=11017013&Ref=AR (Primary)