Overview
This lecture by Dr. Kutcha Risling-Baldy critiques the erasure and misrepresentation of California Native histories through monuments, mascots, and educational projects, urging decolonization and active support for Indigenous communities.
Land Acknowledgement & Action
- Land acknowledgements should include actionable support for Indigenous communities.
- Dr. Risling-Baldy encouraged donations to the Kumeyaay to Gain Your Land Conservancy.
- Another action is to write to the president of San Diego State University to remove the Native American mascot.
Myths, Mascots, and Representation
- California K-12 schools and universities often use Native mascots, perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
- Scientific studies show Native mascots lower Native youth self-esteem and disempower them.
- Institutions, like San Diego State, erase California Native histories by adopting architecture and mascots unrelated to actual California tribes.
Mission System: History and Critique
- The mission system in California started in the late 1700s with 21 missions along the El Camino Real.
- Spanish missions were part of a colonial system perfected over centuries to convert, control, and economically exploit Native peoples.
- Missions presented a sanitized history, masking realities such as violence, starvation, and population loss.
- Junipero Serra, canonized as a saint, was an Inquisitor, complicit in violence and abuse against Native peoples especially women.
Resistance and Historical Narratives
- Many revolts by Native groups occurred against the missions, e.g., the 1775 Kumeyaay Revolt.
- Toypurina, a Tongva medicine woman, led resistance against Mission San Gabriel but is not publicly commemorated, unlike Serra.
- The Rancho system rewarded those who betrayed Native leaders, further disenfranchising Native communities.
The Fourth Grade Mission Project
- The California fourth grade mission project often promotes inaccurate, romanticized narratives about missions.
- Dr. Risling-Baldy’s daughter reimagined the project to highlight Native resistance, specifically the burning of the San Diego mission.
- Teaching accurate and empowering Native histories can counteract disempowering school curricula.
Decolonization and the Future
- Toppling statues and challenging myths are parts of broader movements for decolonization and truthful historical representation.
- Uplifting stories of Native resistance and survival empowers Native youth and supports coalition-building for the future.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Land Acknowledgement — Statement recognizing Indigenous peoples as original stewards of the land.
- Mission System — Network of Spanish colonial religious outposts in California aimed at converting and controlling Native peoples.
- Sanitized History — Presentation of a historical narrative that omits violence and oppression.
- Decolonization — Process of challenging and undoing colonial structures and narratives.
- Toypurina — Tongva medicine woman who led resistance against Spanish missions.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Donate to the Kumeyaay to Gain Your Land Conservancy.
- Write to San Diego State University’s president advocating for removal of the Native American mascot.
- When participating in or teaching about California missions, include Native perspectives and histories of resistance.