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Signed in to the "Toppling Mission Mythologies Conference" on Zoom. Participants include Amy Lonetree, Cutcha Risling Baldy, Renya Ramirez and Deborah Miranda. Assemblyman James Ramos is MC. He says there's 1300 people tuned in. I'll try to tweet highlights as we go.
Ramos talks about statue of Serra coming down in California. Uses strong words on what Serra brought to California: atrocity, genocide. He says it is necessary not just to topple statues. Curriculum has to change, too.
First speaker is Deborah Miranda ( @badndns). She's done some terrific blog posts on California missions and some of her work is at the Zinn Project, too. See "Lying to Children About the California Missions and the Indians" at https://www.zinnedproject.org/author-bios/deborah-a-miranda/
Miranda talks about why the 'Serra was a man of his time' excuse for what Serra did has no merit. She points to people before him (Las Casas) who knew better.
(Note: people say that sort of thing all the time. It is put forth about Laura Ingalls Wilder, too. It is nonsense.)
(Note: people say that sort of thing all the time. It is put forth about Laura Ingalls Wilder, too. It is nonsense.)
"Serra made a choice" Miranda says.
I think you can watch live event, here: https://www.facebook.com/events/269164841013642/permalink/275526337044159. The event is being recorded and will be available on Youtube.
Caroline Ward-Holland is recounting work she's been involved with, in working to bring forth truths of the missions and Serra, especially during the period when Serra was being canonized.
(I will note here that Serra features prominently in a Caldecott winning book, Leo Politi's SONG OF THE SWALLOWS. …https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2011/02/indians-in-leo-politis-song-of-swallows.html Do you have that book in your library?
Ward-Hollington's first-hand account of visiting many missions, reading plaques at them, looking at paintings... it is a powerful and pain-filled account.
Next speaker is Yve Chavez. Her talk is about museums at the missions and relationships with Indigenous peoples. These museums, she says, lack Native perspectives.
Some things, she says, should not be on display.
(Note: that statement reminds me of the article I tweeted last night... https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0752/9/1/6 )
(Note: that statement reminds me of the article I tweeted last night... https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0752/9/1/6 )
Her efforts to gain access to materials in the missions have been rebuffed by gatekeepers who suspect her goal has to do with Serra.
The materials, she says, are at risk and Native scholars should have access to them before they're lost.
The materials, she says, are at risk and Native scholars should have access to them before they're lost.
Chavez was interviewed for this article about the fire at San Gabriel: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-12/san-gabriel-mission-a-symbol-of-faith-history-oppression-bad-damaged-by-fire
(Just realized I haven't been inserting tribal nation for speakers! Here are all of them: Deborah Miranda (Ohlone Costanoan Esselen/Chumash), Caroline Ward-Holland (Fernandino Tataviam), Yve Chavez (Tongva), Olivia Chilcote (Luiseño, San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians)...
And, Val Lopez (Amah Mutsun), Renya Ramirez (Ho-Chunk/Ojibwe), Cutcha Risling Baldy (Hoopa Valley), Stan Rodriguez (Santa Ysabel/Kumeyaay).
Next panelist is Olivia Chicote. Her presentation is about federal recognition of tribal nations.
Next panelist is Olivia Chicote. Her presentation is about federal recognition of tribal nations.
