Handbuilder Diary: San Juan Bautista Mission and State Historic Park Field Trip

Our groups met the honored mission cat...

The missions of California are complicated. In many ways, they are a tragic addition to the history of Native American life in the rest of the United States. Or, we could say North America, in general. I have my students research a Native Californian tribe, and then they select a mission. Both reports are designed to show the clash of cultures. The historic plan initially, was to make the Native Californians near the coast into "good Spanish citizens". It was a way for the Spaniards to gain a foothold in Alta California, and to develop the territory. However, it seems that the plan went from being one of conversion and assimilation, to simple economics. When the missions were no longer making money, their land was sold to private citizens.

During this particular year of teaching, I've been comparing the mission system to the plantation system in the southern part of the United States, in my head, of course. I try to keep my judgements to myself, and let students draw their own conclusions, after looking at the situation from both points of view. But, in my head, I have been reflecting on my visit to Arlington National Cemetery a few years ago. I remember reading about the small town that was formed by all of George Washington's slaves, when they were set free after his death. They had nowhere to go, no livelihood, no land. They were free, but to what end? When the missions were secularized, and Native Californians had lost their languages, customs, skills, lands, and religions, what was left? Imagine being told to leave all you had known for a second time. Yes, you're free, but free to do what?

Our docent asked the students how they thought California would have been different without the missions? This is an excellent question. Would we have been claimed by Russia, or England? Spain did not have enough settlers initially. What would have happened when gold was discovered? Would the miners have brought even more sickness, death, and loss of land and language? It's hard to say.

Our state is a complicated composite of everyone who has ever lived here, including us.