California is ignoring a history of violence against Native Americans
May 10, 2019 10:23 AM Subscribe
Indigenous educators fight for an accurate history of California
Tour guides typically avoided the darker details of its history, of course, such as the 4,000 Salinan tribal members buried in a mass grave about 500 feet from the church — their deaths and disposal a final reward for their work in building the mission.
Tour guides typically avoided the darker details of its history, of course, such as the 4,000 Salinan tribal members buried in a mass grave about 500 feet from the church — their deaths and disposal a final reward for their work in building the mission.
I did not know about Max Rafferty at all, to say nothing of all the folks doing the work of shifting curriculums--thanks for this.
posted by salt grass at 1:41 PM on May 10, 2019
posted by salt grass at 1:41 PM on May 10, 2019
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
posted by Twang at 6:36 PM on May 10, 2019
posted by Twang at 6:36 PM on May 10, 2019
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
....if you can get it funded.
So much has been lost.
posted by mule98J at 7:59 PM on May 10, 2019 [3 favorites]
....if you can get it funded.
So much has been lost.
posted by mule98J at 7:59 PM on May 10, 2019 [3 favorites]
I really appreciated the focus on teaching both accurate history and comprehensive current issues.
posted by lazuli at 9:38 PM on May 10, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by lazuli at 9:38 PM on May 10, 2019 [1 favorite]
This article triggers a peeve of mine. It seems to be the thing now to criticize the Spanish missions that were the start of European civilization of California, which all elementary students in the state learn about.
Sure, there is much to criticize, but it kind of misses the whole point, and this article is also missing the point even after it briefly mentions the main point, which I quote:
Indigenous people were massacred to fulfill the Spanish land grants promised to colonists. Then the Americans came.
That's the main point that should be taught in schools, and it so overshadows what the Spanish were doing, that what they did is almost not worth mentioning in comparison.
The Spanish thought they were 'civilizing' the natives by bringing some of them into the missions and teaching them farming. It was a cross-cultural disaster, and the diseases the Spanish brought killed many of them. So what did the Spanish do? After the failed 65 year experiment, they secularized the missions, and gave the land to the natives so they could continue farming it. Yes, they did this. Of course it was just a continuation of the failure since they were never used to farming in the first place and their land was quickly taken over by what happened next.
Then Mexico took over the state, then the US. Then gold was discovered. That is when the real evil started, and nothing the Spanish did can compare. There were many, many recorded massacres-- wholesale slaughters of entire communities of natives.
One key person was John C. Frémont was instrumental in helping the fight to make California part of the US and a state, Arizona and California Governor and California Senator and ran for President. He lead the Sacramento River massacre of hundreds of Wintu--mostly women and children.
I once read an entry from Frémont's diary where he said he was walking along, talking to a friend of his, and saw a native walking in the distance. He took his rifle and shot him, then continued the conversation with his friend.
I was quite shocked when I read that--the shear casuallness with which he murders someone for no reason and not the slightest moral regret.
I read about all this protesting of the Spanish missions and I just want to scream. You want to criticize something? Take a good hard look in the mirror. It is the US treatment, our treatment, of the California natives that we need to be talking about.
posted by eye of newt at 10:45 PM on May 11, 2019
Sure, there is much to criticize, but it kind of misses the whole point, and this article is also missing the point even after it briefly mentions the main point, which I quote:
Indigenous people were massacred to fulfill the Spanish land grants promised to colonists. Then the Americans came.
That's the main point that should be taught in schools, and it so overshadows what the Spanish were doing, that what they did is almost not worth mentioning in comparison.
The Spanish thought they were 'civilizing' the natives by bringing some of them into the missions and teaching them farming. It was a cross-cultural disaster, and the diseases the Spanish brought killed many of them. So what did the Spanish do? After the failed 65 year experiment, they secularized the missions, and gave the land to the natives so they could continue farming it. Yes, they did this. Of course it was just a continuation of the failure since they were never used to farming in the first place and their land was quickly taken over by what happened next.
Then Mexico took over the state, then the US. Then gold was discovered. That is when the real evil started, and nothing the Spanish did can compare. There were many, many recorded massacres-- wholesale slaughters of entire communities of natives.
One key person was John C. Frémont was instrumental in helping the fight to make California part of the US and a state, Arizona and California Governor and California Senator and ran for President. He lead the Sacramento River massacre of hundreds of Wintu--mostly women and children.
I once read an entry from Frémont's diary where he said he was walking along, talking to a friend of his, and saw a native walking in the distance. He took his rifle and shot him, then continued the conversation with his friend.
I was quite shocked when I read that--the shear casuallness with which he murders someone for no reason and not the slightest moral regret.
I read about all this protesting of the Spanish missions and I just want to scream. You want to criticize something? Take a good hard look in the mirror. It is the US treatment, our treatment, of the California natives that we need to be talking about.
posted by eye of newt at 10:45 PM on May 11, 2019
i think it's probably okay for indigenous americans to criticize any and all colonizers they want.
posted by poffin boffin at 3:47 PM on May 12, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 3:47 PM on May 12, 2019 [6 favorites]
How the NC education system overlooks the harsh realities of Natives past and present
posted by homunculus at 4:19 PM on May 26, 2019
posted by homunculus at 4:19 PM on May 26, 2019
(For clarity, the "NC education system" mentioned in that link is North Carolina, not Northern California.)
posted by Lexica at 12:38 PM on May 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Lexica at 12:38 PM on May 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
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posted by scruss at 11:07 AM on May 10, 2019 [4 favorites]