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The Luiseño of Southern California

By Damian Bacich

Luiseño leaders at Pala in the 1880s

The Luiseño people are an indigenous group of coastal Southern California with a unique language and culture. The introduction of the mission introduced major changes into Luiseño life, including a new religion (Christianity) and the adoption of the farming and ranching lifestyle. Since its founding, the mission was supervised by Fr. Antonio Peyrí. Fr. Peyrí […]

Filed Under: 4th Grade, Native Americans Tagged With: Luiseño, Mission San Luis Rey, Native Americans, Southern California

The Legend of Chief Solano

By Damian Bacich

“He was of gigantic stature, standing six feet seven inches–without his stockings, for he had none. And he was large all over in proportion, with the strength of several men. His name by baptism was Francisco Solano, and by that name he was best known.” – Platon Vallejo

Filed Under: California Indians, Hispanic Heritage, Native Americans Tagged With: California Indians (Standard 1), Gen. Mariano G. Vallejo, Mission San Francisco Solano, Patwin, Sonoma, Suisun

Indian Vaqueros in Alta California

By Damian Bacich

Vaqueros were the most important workers in the mission and rancho eras. And some of the first vaqueros were Native American. Learn more about these unique figures on the California frontier. What Does “Vaquero” Mean? The word vaquero is usually translated as “cowboy” in English, and literally means “someone in charge of cows.” It also […]

Filed Under: Daily Lives, Mexican Rule, Native Americans, Spanish Missions Tagged With: horses, Ranchos, soldados, Vaqueros

Ramona, the Novel that Changed California: Interview with Jonathan Alcántar

By Damian Bacich

The novel Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson sparked an interest in California’s Mission Era that attracted visitors from all over the country. But Jackson’s novel was much more than nostalgia for a bygone era — it was a cry for human rights. The story of the author, her work and how Cuba’s most famous exile […]

Filed Under: Hispanic Heritage, Native Americans, Podcast Episodes Tagged With: Helen Hunt Jackson, José Martí, Ramona

Indian Life at Mission Santa Cruz

By Damian Bacich

What was daily life like for Native Americans at Mission Santa Cruz? What did they eat? What jobs did they do? An introduction to life at Alta California’s 12th Spanish Mission. Where is Mission Santa Cruz Located? Mission Santa Cruz is located near the northern coast of Monterey Bay, on the west side of the […]

Filed Under: Native Americans, Primary Sources, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Fermín Francisco de Lasuén, Interrogatorio, mission santa cruz, Ohlone

The Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island: Interview with Elisabeth Rareshide

By Damian Bacich

The story of the Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island was made famous by Scott O’Dell’s novel The Island of the Blue Dolphins. In this episode of the podcast, we learn more about her real life with archeologist Elisabeth Rareshide, along with a new exhibit at the Mission Santa Barbara museum. Elisabeth Rareshide Elisabeth Rareshide […]

Filed Under: 4th Grade, California Indians, Native Americans, Podcast Episodes Tagged With: Island of the Blue Dolphins, Juana María

Aztec Memories and the Florentine Codex: Interview with Ezekiel Stear (Part 1)

By Damian Bacich

The story of the Spanish missions in California has its roots in 16th century Mexico. There, Franciscan friars and their native partners sought to record the memories of Aztec elders before their culture was changed forever. The information they collected is contained in the Florentine Codex. Ezekiel Stear Dr. Ezekiel Stear is Assistant Professor of […]

Filed Under: Catholicism, Franciscans, Hispanic Heritage, Native Americans, Podcast Episodes, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Auburn University, Aztecs, Florentine Codex

Indian Life at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel

By Damian Bacich

What was daily life like for Native Americans at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel? What did they eat? What jobs did they do? An introduction to life at Alta California’s 4th Spanish Mission. Who Founded Mission San Gabriel? Mission San Gabriel Arcángel was the 4th mission established in Alta California. The mission was founded on September […]

Filed Under: California Indians, Daily Lives, Native Americans, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Gabrielino, Interrogatorio, Mission San Gabriel, Pedro Benito Cambón, Somera, Tongva

“Follow the Money”: Interview with Marie Christine Duggan (Part 2)

By Damian Bacich

In this second part of the interview we learn about what studying economic history can reveal about the past. In particular, we learn about California’s early connections to the Far East, and how competition over the fur trade created some unusual rivalries and alliances. Highlights of Part 2: Franciscan views of money and morality. The […]

Filed Under: Early Land and Sea Routes, Native Americans, Podcast Episodes, Resources, Soldiers and Presidios, Spain, Spanish Exploration and Colonization, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Chumash, José de la Guerra y Noriega, Manila Galleon, Mission Dolores, Mission San Luis Obispo, Otter Trade, Philipines

Missions and Misconceptions: Interview with Marie Christine Duggan (Part 1)

By Damian Bacich

The story of the Spanish missions in California isn’t always what it seems. By delving into Mexico’s National Archives, Dr. Marie Christine Duggan uncovered facts that provide a unique inside view of mission life. From murder trials to Indian militias, we talk about some of the lesser-known aspects of California mission history. Marie Christine Duggan […]

Filed Under: California Indians, Daily Lives, Franciscans, Native Americans, Podcast Episodes, Soldiers and Presidios, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Blacksmiths, Chumash, Militias, Vaqueros

Native Americans of Southern California: the Kumeyaay

By Damian Bacich

The Kumeyaay are indigenous people who live on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, in southwestern California and northwestern Baja California. They traditionally spoke languages related to each other, and many were connected to Mission San Diego de Alcalá. The Kumeyaay Name In times past, because the Kumeyaay were spread over such a large territory that […]

Filed Under: California Indians, Native Americans Tagged With: Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, Kumeyaay, Mission San Diego de Alcala, Portolá, San Diego

Native American Life at Mission San Diego de Alcalá

By Damian Bacich

What was daily life like for Native Americans at Mission San Diego de Alcalá? What did they eat? What jobs did they do? An introduction to life at Alta California’s 1st Spanish Mission. Who Founded Mission San Diego de Alcalá and When Was It Founded? Mission San Diego de Alcalá was founded by Fr. Junípero […]

Filed Under: Hispanic Heritage, Native Americans, Spanish Missions

Why Did Native Americans Come to the California Missions?

By Damian Bacich

Why Did Native Americans Come to the Missions?

Native Americans came to the California missions for a variety of reasons. Some of these were: protection from their enemies, access to stable food sources, attraction to Spanish culture and religion, fear of Spanish weapons and a desire to stay together with their clans and kin. Were Native Americans Forced to Enter the California Missions? […]

Filed Under: California Indians, Indians featured, Native Americans, Resources, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Native Americans, spanish missions

Native Americans of the California Coast: The Chumash

By Damian Bacich

The Chumash are a widespread group of California native people who lived along the southern California coast and the Santa Barbara Channel Islands.

Filed Under: California Indians, Native Americans, Resources Tagged With: Channel Islands, Mission La Purisima, pictograph, rock art, San Buenaventura, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, tomol

Life at a California Mission: A Native American Perspective

By Damian Bacich

In the 1830’s, a young man named Pablo Tac wrote about his experiences growing up at Mission San Luis Rey. It is one of the only firsthand accounts written by a Native American who lived at a mission.

Filed Under: 4th Grade, California Indians, Daily Lives, Indians featured, Native Americans, Primary Sources, Resources Tagged With: Agapito Amamix, Antonio Peyri, California Indians (Standard 1), Daily Lives (Standard 5), Luiseño, Native Americans, Pablo Tac, Pala, Primary Sources, San Diego

Salinan Tribe Facts

By Damian Bacich

There were probably as many as 21 Salinan villages in the extending just south of Mission La Soledad to the north of San Luis Obispo.

Filed Under: Native American Tribe Facts, Resources

Acjachemen (Juaneño) Tribe Facts

By Damian Bacich

Filed Under: California Indians, Native American Tribe Facts Tagged With: Acjachemem, Juaneño

Ohlone Tribe Facts

By Damian Bacich

Other names: Costanoan Home region: Greater San Francisco Bay region, including Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito and northern Monterey Counties Mission affiliations: San Carlos Borromeo, San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores), Santa Clara de Asís, Santa Cruz, San José Historical background: Ohlone is a name used to describe a large number of diverse groups that […]

Filed Under: Native American Tribe Facts

Luiseño Tribe Facts

By Damian Bacich

Other name: Payómkawichum or Payómkowishum; Quechnajuichom  Home region: San Diego County, north toward San Onofre, south toward Escondido Mission affiliations: San Luis Rey de Francia Historical background: Quechnajuichom is the Spanish spelling of the name that Pablo Tac, a nineteenth-century Luiseño ethnographer, used to describe the people who lived in the area around today’s San Luis […]

Filed Under: Native American Tribe Facts

Maidu Tribe Facts

By Damian Bacich

Home region: Lower reaches of the Yuba River, the American River and the Feather River, to the east bank of the Sacramento and the Sierra crest. Mission affiliations: San Francisco de Asís Historical background: The Maidu people occupied the areas of the northern Sierra, and down into the Sacramento Valley. Maidu contact with the Spanish most […]

Filed Under: Native American Tribe Facts

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I’m Dr. Damian Bacich, and I started the California Frontier Project. Learn more about me and the project here.

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