California Mission
San Rafael Arcángel
1104 5th Street, San Rafael, CA 94901
Native Life
Mission San Rafael Arcangel was built in the ancestral territory of the Coast Miwok and near the homelands of the Wappo and Pomo Tribes. The Coast Miwok lived in the area of southern Sonoma county, Marin county and Bodega bay. These areas were rich in resources of vegetation, wild life and seafood. Coast Miwok at mussels, clams, fish water fowl, deer, small game and acorns. Miwoks used natural resources for hunting, hygiene and medicinal uses. The Indian Soap plant could be dropped in fresh water streams and it would act as a stunning property, making it easier to catch fish. Also Oak galls were used as a form of toothpaste when chewed, and acorn mush was processed in a way that it’s mildew/residue could be used to treat infections.
Pomo and Miwok Indians are world-famous for their baskets. Most of their baskets were produced by women from the tribe, though men made some for hunting and sale. Since Pomo and Miwok peoples survived on the food they gathered, the great majority of baskets were used for storing seeds and other dried foods. Some baskets were so tightly woven that they could hold water. This made it possible for storing, grinding, mixing and serving meals all in one basket. The baskets came in all colors, shapes and sizes. It is not uncommon to find Pomo baskets decorated with duck, robin or blue jay feathers. In fact, the most valuable baskets were adorned with special clamshell beads and feathers for purposes, like a wedding gift. You can even find baskets as tiny as two inches in diameter- smaller than a paper clip!
Pomo men were very good at collecting wild foods, fishing, and hunting. They would work together to corral elk, antelope, deer, and salmon. A good hunter could hit a fish with one thrust of his harpoon. Although killing was a part of Pomo survival they always followed strict religious rituals. Thanks and prayers were offered to both animals and the creator for the nourishment that was provided to the people. Animals were always asked for forgiveness. During seasons with warm weather, the Pomo men did not wear a lot of clothing. While hunting or during ceremonies, they wore breechclouts made from tule, buckskin or rabbit fur. Sometimes, they wore leggings and moccasins also made from tule. Pomo women always wore skirts from their waists to their ankles and decorated themselves with beautiful regalia such as necklaces, head sashes, and earrings.
The Pomo built homes fit for single or multi-families using natural resources. Some houses could hold as many as 30 people. They drove willow poles into the ground as stakes, then bent and tied them together to make a dome or pyramid frame. Smaller poles were thatched together to make the roof and walls waterproof. In addition to homes, every small village had its own sweat house. These were built over pits where the Pomo would pour water over hot rocks to make steam. This was used for purification and relaxation. Lastly, larger villages had grand roundhouses. The Pomo held meetings, performed songs, dances and ceremonies in roundhouses.
Cultural Impacts
The Spanish attempted to force Indians to assimilate into Spanish culture and give up their traditional way of life. Indians were forced to change their religious beliefs, diet, and daily routines, though many Indians resisted. Missionaries required Indians to study Christianity, Spanish language, and Spanish customs in order to assimilate into Spanish life. California Indians were forbidden from speaking in their native languages, practicing traditional religious ceremonies, and eating traditional foods. Sugar and milk was introduced to the diet of Indians working the missions, leading to tooth decay, life threatening infections, diabetes and other health issues. Within two years of living in the missions, many Indians lost all of their teeth.
Indians also struggled with the livestock and diseases that the Spanish brought to California. Indians used various techniques, like burning small areas of the forest to restore nutrients to the soil, in order to work the land and harvest plants for food and medicine. Cows, goats, pigs, and chickens overgrazed the lands tended by Indians, turning Indian crops into trampled wilderness. Livestock forced native animals to compete for food, throwing the ecosystem out of balance. The Spanish also brought diseases like Measles, Influenza and Small Pox to California. Unlike the Spanish, the native peoples did not have the opportunity to build up natural immunities to these diseases. The introduction of European diseases devastated native populations, wiping out entire villages.
Colonization & Governance
The Spanish plan for governance and maintenance of the missions in California was supposed to be carried out over a ten year period. The plan called for the missionaries to “convert” the Indians to Christianity and “train” them to perform manual labor. After a period of ten years it was anticipated that the Franciscan missionaries would turn their missions over to parish priests and the Indians in the missions would live “assimilated” into Spanish culture in Indian “pueblos” or towns. This ten year plan was actually carried out over the course of fifty years. There were many factors that contributed to things not going as they had planned. There were large scale resistance efforts by California Indian tribes. The rate of disease and death was high among populations of Indians at the missions. Thus the military and church expended vast resources on continual expeditions to “capture” Indians in the regions of California that had thus far been untouched by disease. Additionally, California Indians did not adopt religious practices and Spanish culture in a way that was satisfactory to the church and government authorities. Thus, the Indian people would have to be forced to maintain the lifestyle the Spanish planned to assimilated them to under a colonial authority.
Resistance
California Indians engaged in widespread resistance to Spanish colonization. Resistance came in many forms. Large scale revolts were organized simultaneously among multiple Indians at several missions. Many individuals and groups attempted to escape. Stock raids were organized with other tribal groups. Others refused to work, attend church services, or bear children fathered by Spanish soldiers. Some groups continued to practice their traditions and ceremonies in secret. Indians were punished by the missionaries for exercising these forms of resistance. Native accounts of punishment describe executions, whippings, shackling, confinement, being made to wear wooden collars with metal hooks and many other forms of physical and psychological humiliation and cruelty.
Secularizations
Mexico won their independence from Spain in 1821 and took control of California. The Mexican government passed laws in 1834 to secularize the missions, meaning that the government took control over the missions away from the priests and gave it to the Indians. The initial plan was for the secularized missions to become Indians towns, or pueblos, and to divide half of the land for the Indians and the other half for the priests. The Indians were also instructed to tend the common area between the two pieces of land. A Mexican government administrator was assigned to each mission to inventory property, livestock and other items of value. Upon the completion of the inventory the official was in charge of distributing the land and valuables to the Indians. Five Indian pueblos were established in total: Flores, Pala, San Dieguito, San Juan Capistrano and San Pasqual.
General Information
San Rafael Arcangel
CA aboriginal people:
Coast Miwok and Pomo
Current CA Indian tribe(s) in area:
Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (Rohnert Park, CA) Dry Creek Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California (Federally Recognized)
PO Box 481
Novato, CA 94948
(707) 566-2288 Phone
(707) 566-2291 Fax
Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria, California (Federally Recognized)
3535 Industrial Drive, Suite B2
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 591-0580 Phone
(707) 591-0583 Fax