Overview
This lecture reflects on the anniversary of San Diego's founding from an Iipay (Northern Kumeyaay) perspective, critiquing dominant historical narratives and advocating for decolonization and indigenous visibility.
Ancestral Background & Forced Removal
- The Iipay (Northern Kumeyaay) have ancestral roots in the Mataguay village, located near present-day Lake Henshaw and Warner Springs.
- In 1903, Kumeyaay ancestors, including the author's family, were forcibly evicted and relocated due to settler expansion.
- Promised lands from the 1850 Treaty of Santa Ysabel were not honored, with families restricted to smaller reservations.
Indigenous Perspectives on San Diego's Founding
- Local indigenous history predates Spanish colonization by thousands of years.
- Indigenous narratives reflect resistance to Spanish, Mexican, and American invasions and efforts to remain on their ancestral land.
- Colonial commemorations often erase or rationalize the occupation of indigenous lands.
Kumeyaay Creation Story & Lifeways
- Kumeyaay creation stories describe emergence from water and the formation of land by ancestral beings.
- These stories emphasize cultural continuity and the significance of oral traditions before colonial disruption.
Impact and Resistance to Colonization
- The founding of Mission San Diego represented a brief but traumatic disruption in Kumeyaay history.
- Kumeyaay resistance to missionization was recognized by Spanish officials, who described them as fiercely independent.
- Ongoing efforts resist colonial narratives and seek to repatriate artifacts, protect ancestors, and correct public representations.
Colonial Narratives & Their Effects
- Settler narratives use "firsting," "lasting," and "replacement" tactics to claim land and erase indigenous histories.
- Naming and claiming places, such as building missions on indigenous villages, disconnects sites from original Native histories.
- Celebrations rarely recognize First Peoples' contributions or sacrifices.
Decolonizing Local History
- Decolonization requires centering indigenous voices and critically examining power structures in historical narratives.
- Public institutions should incorporate accurate Native histories and perspectives.
- Removing Native-themed mascots and rebranding institutions are necessary to respect local indigenous peoples.
Correcting Tourism & Local Narratives
- Tourism campaigns, like Julian's Gold Rush Days, perpetuate incomplete and sanitized histories.
- Historical records often omit violence against Native and African American residents during events like the gold rush.
- Communities are urged to invest in campaigns acknowledging true diverse histories.
Concluding Thoughts & Importance of Storytelling
- Contemporary Native struggles stem from historical competition for land, resources, and ongoing inequities.
- Sharing indigenous stories is vital to reclaiming narrative space and promoting understanding.
- Intellectual dialogue is necessary for healing, justice, and transformation.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Iipay — Northern Kumeyaay people, indigenous to the San Diego region.
- Decolonization — Active resistance to colonialism by restoring indigenous knowledge and perspectives.
- Firsting/Lasting/Replacement Narratives — Colonial narrative tactics that erase or claim indigeneity.
- Mission San Diego de Alcalá — The first Spanish mission in California, established on Kumeyaay land.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Reflect on local commemorations—consider whose histories are represented and whose are omitted.
- Advocate for balanced, accurate representation of Native history in schools, museums, and public spaces.
- Explore opportunities for community dialogue about decolonizing local history and practices.