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

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 is a historical archaeologist working on a PhD in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her overarching research interest is to understand when, why, and how people decide to reject, accept, or innovate as they navigate new intercultural and power dynamics, particularly in the context of colonialism. Her current research focuses on the interactions between the colonial Dominican friars and Paipai at Mission San Vicente Ferrer in Baja California, Mexico.

• Elisabeth Rareshide: personal website.

Episode Highlights

• Who was the Lone Woman of San Nicolás Island and who were her people, the Nicoleños?
• Sea otter hunting off the coast of California: Russians, Native Alaskans and Americans.
• How the real story differs from The Island of the Blue Dolphins.
• George Nidever, the sea captain who found the lone woman.
• The Mission Santa Barbara museum exhibit.
• What would an island dog look like?
• The Spanish missions in northern Baja California.
• Mission San Vicente Ferrer – Dominican military headquarters

To Learn More

• The Island of the Blue Dolphins: The Complete Reader’s Edition
• Information about the Lone Woman exhibit from the Author Adventures website.
• National Parks Service Site dedicated to The Island of the Blue Dolphins
• NPS Site dedicated to the Lone Woman of San Nicolás Island
• Website of Mission Santa Barbara