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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 Americanos Played for Keeps”

By Damian Bacich

The Battle of San Pascual

In his memoirs about life in rancho era California, José Jesús López describes how his father joined the “California Army.”

Filed Under: California History Tagged With: Californios, Daily Lives (Standard 5), Los Angeles, Pio Pico, Primary Sources

Bad for the Lungs but Wonderful for Memories

By Damian Bacich

If doors and windows were primitive in Californio homes, you can also imagine that furniture was not much better.

Filed Under: California History Tagged With: Californios, Daily Lives (Standard 5), Los Angeles, Primary Sources

Life in Rancho Era Los Angeles: Hardships and Joys

By Damian Bacich

José Jesús López grew up in the Pueblo of Los Angeles in the 1850s, in the neighborhood of *El Paredón Blanco* (today’s Boyle Heights).

Filed Under: California History Tagged With: Californios, Daily Lives (Standard 5), Los Angeles, Primary Sources, Rancho Era, Ranchos

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

Choosing a Mission Site: San Miguel Arcángel

By Damian Bacich

Choosing a Mission Site: San Miguel Arcángel

How was a mission site chosen? What factors went into the location of a mission? Who decided where to build a mission? When was Mission San Miguel Founded? Mission San Miguel Arcángel was founded on July 25, 1797 by Fr. Fermín de Lasuén and Fr. Buenaventura Sitjar.  Important Steps Before establishing a Spanish mission in […]

Filed Under: Missions Tagged With: Antonio de la Concepción Horra, Buenaventura Sitjar, Diego Borica, Fermín Francisco de Lasuén, Mission San Miguel, Primary Sources, Salinan

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

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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