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The Chumash Uprising: Interview with Dr. John R. Johnson

By Damian Bacich

In Part 1 of this fascinating interview, Dr. John Johnson, former Curator of Anthropology at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, provides an in-depth look at the Chumash Uprising of 1824 – the most important indigenous uprising in California history. Dr. Johnson, an expert on California’s Native peoples, especially the Chumash Indians, shares his extensive research on […]

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: California Indians (Standard 1), Chumash, Native Americans, Primary Sources

The Coast Miwok: People of the Northern California Coast (Part 2)

By Damian Bacich

Read Part 1 here. First Encounters with Europeans Early Explorations The Coast Miwok people’s encounters with Europeans date back to the sixteenth century. In 1579, the English privateer Francis Drake made landfall along the northern California coast. There, he probably met Coast Miwok people. Portuguese explorer Sebastião Rodrigues Soromenho — also known as Sebastián Rodríguez […]

Filed Under: Native American Life Tagged With: California Indians (Standard 1), Coast Miwok, Native Americans, Sonoma

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 Joining the Mission When young Sina was […]

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

Adopted by Indians: A True Story (Review)

By Damian Bacich

Author: Thomas Jefferson Mayfield Editor: Malcolm Margolin Illustrators: Hilair Chism, Rick Jones Paperback: 144 pages Publisher and Year: Heyday Books, 1997 As we perused the gift shop of a local history museum, I noticed my son was reading one of the books. Of course, if my children find a book about history that interests them, I pay […]

Filed Under: Native American Life Tagged With: Bay Area, California Indians (Standard 1), Choinumne, Daily Lives (Standard 5), Native Americans, Primary Sources

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: Native American Life Tagged With: Agapito Amamix, Antonio Peyri, California Indians (Standard 1), Daily Lives (Standard 5), Luiseño, Native Americans, Pablo Tac, Pala, Primary Sources, San Diego

Native Americans of the San Francisco Bay Area: The Ohlone Tribe, Part 1

By Damian Bacich

The Ohlone people occupied the San Francisco and Monterey Bay regions for thousands of years. Part 1 of a 2-part series. In the first part of this series, we will discuss the Ohlone name, their traditional territory, Ohlone languages, housing, food and clothes.

Filed Under: California History Tagged With: Anza, Bay Area, California Indians (Standard 1), Costanoan, Ohlone

Native Americans in the Rancho Era: Roberto-Suñol and Olompali

By Damian Bacich

In 19th-century California, some Indians sought to recover their native lands by requesting grants from the Mexican government. The Roberto-Suñol Adobe and Olompali State Historic Park commemorate two men who did just that.

Filed Under: Mexican California Tagged With: Adobes, Bay Area, California history, California Indians (Standard 1), Coast Miwok, living history, Miwok, Native Americans, Ohlone, Rancho Era, San José, State Park

Indian Life at the California Missions — Santa Inés

By Damian Bacich

How did native people live at Mission Santa Inés? What was daily life like? What languages did they speak? What foods did they eat? How did they dress?

Filed Under: Missions Tagged With: California Indians (Standard 1), Chumash, Daily Lives (Standard 5), Mission Santa Inés, Santa Inés, Santa Ynez

Native American Life at the California Missions: An Overview

By Damian Bacich

Indian Life at the California Missions

How did native people live at the Spanish missions in Alta California? What were their jobs? What did they eat? An in-depth look at Native American life in the California missions.

Filed Under: Missions Tagged With: California Indians (Standard 1), Daily Lives (Standard 5), Native American Jobs

Native Americans of the California Missions: Territories, Affiliations and Descendants

By Damian Bacich

California Indians: Mission-Affiliated Groups

Native American Tribes of the California Missions

Filed Under: California History Tagged With: Acjachemem, Barbareño, California Indians (Standard 1), Canalino, Chumash, Costanoan, Diegueño, Esselen, Fernandeño, Gabrielino, Ipai, Juaneño, Kumeyaay, Luiseño, Miwok, Mutsun, Obispeño, Ohlone, Patwin, Purisimeño, Quechnajuichom, Rumsen, Salinan, Suisunes, Tataviem, Tipai, Tongva, Ventureño, Wappo, Wintu, Yneseño, Yokuts

Mission San Antonio de Pala: Why You Need to Visit

By Damian Bacich

San Antonio de Pala, founded in 1816 as an asistencia (branch) of San Luis Rey, is a living Native American community and an important destination on your next visit to San Diego.

Filed Under: Missions Tagged With: California, California Indians (Standard 1), Luiseño, Native Americans, Pablo Tac, Peyri, San Diego

Indian Life at the California Missions – San Miguel Arcangel

By Damian Bacich

One of the things people often ask about is what life was like on the California missions, especially Indian life. Some of the most important accounts of California Indian life at the missions come from the Interrogatorio (Questionnaire) that the Spanish Government sent to the priests of the California Missions in 1813.

Filed Under: California History Tagged With: California Indians (Standard 1), Daily Lives (Standard 5), featured, Mission San Miguel, Primary Sources

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