Indians, Franciscans, and Spanish Colonization: The Impact of the Mission System on California Indians

by Robert H. Jackson and Edward Castillo

Book Overview

This ethnohistory, now in paperback, examines Indian life in the twenty-one missions Franciscans established in Alta California. In describing how the missions functioned between 1769 and 1848, the authors draw on previously unused sources to analyze change and continuity in Indian material culture and religious practices.

The twin goals of Franciscans were to mold Indians into a work force that would produce surplus grain for military garrisons...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0826317537
• ISBN13: 9780826317537
• Release Date: August 1996
• Publisher: University of New Mexico Press
• Length: 222 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 8.9" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

De-Bunking Myths of California's Mission History

This work critically examines the impact of the Mission system on the California Indians. The author interprets mission records about death rates, grain production, livestock and construction to provide insights about Indian life on California missions. The author explores the question: what did the mission system offer that attracted the Indians? The author rejects the simplistic version, taught to California fourth graders, that Indians accepted mission life in exchange for a steady food supply. This book makes a strong case for the role that coercion played in bringing Indians to the mission. The book provides details of Indian resistance to the missionary efforts in the form of revolt, flight, and murder.

The Case Against the Mission Myth

It is a pity that there isn't a book summarizing the case against the Mission Myth for younger readers, but guided by their parents, fourth grade students bound to do their history project could profit from the understandings this book shares. Jackson and Castillo present a challenging summary of evidence that shows the devastating effect that the Franciscan-led colonization of California had on its native peoples. The book is controversial because it undermines the case for the canonization of Junipero Serra by pointing out the moral contradictions inherent in the foundation of the missions. Older students (advanced high school and college) will profit by reference to this work.

The truth about the California Missions

As a kid in Californa Public schools I learned that the Mission Period of our history was this romantic and heroic thing; but the truth is that the Mission era is better described as a horrible failure. Not the least aspect of which was the near extinction of the Californian Indians. This book describes in a scholarly way, based on statistical analysis of Mission records, and related historical documents; the details of what exactly happened: and the picture ain't pretty.