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Beyond the Devil’s Road: Interview With Author Dr. Jeremy Beer

By Damian Bacich

This is a two-part interview with author Jeremy Beer about his new book Beyond the Devil’s Road: Francisco Garcés and the Spanish Encounter with the American Southwest. In Part 1, we discuss the challenges and triumphs of Fray Francisco Garcés, a Franciscan friar and lesser-known but remarkable explorer, and his extensive travels across one of North […]

Filed Under: Exploration, Missions, Podcast Tagged With: Anza, Garcés, Native Americans

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 Coast Miwok: People of the Northern California Coast (Part 1)

By Damian Bacich

The Coast Miwok are indigenous people of the area north of San Francisco Bay. Coast Miwok Territory The name “Coast Miwok” refers to the Native American communities who lived along the California coast north of the San Francisco Bay, in what is today Marin and parts of Sonoma Counties. The terrain of that area is […]

Filed Under: Native American Life Tagged With: Coast Miwok, Native Americans, Sonoma

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: Native American Life Tagged With: Luiseño, Mission San Luis Rey, Native Americans, Southern California

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: Missions, Native American Life Tagged With: Native Americans, spanish missions

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 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

Serra Statues: Don’t Tear Down, Build Up

By Damian Bacich

  Junípero Serra’s statues are being defaced. Government institutions are seeking to remove his name from public monuments. All in the name of justice. Is there a better way forward?

Filed Under: California History Tagged With: Franciscans, Junipero Serra, Native Americans, spanish missions, vandalism

Indian Life at the California Missions — San Carlos Borromeo

By Damian Bacich

How did native people live at Mission San Carlos Borromeo? What languages did they speak? What foods did they eat? How did they dress?

Filed Under: California History Tagged With: Mission San Carlos Borromeo, Native Americans, Primary Sources

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

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