Growing up in the Bay Area, it was really interesting to hear about the history of the Santa Clara mission and Native American tribes close to where I grew up. I've been to Mission San Juan Bautista and learned extensively about the California missions, but it was still nice to learn more about the history of Mission Santa Clara. Likewise, I've heard about the Ohlone as well and actually took a field trip to learn more about their culture. Despite all of this background knowledge, I still learned a lot from the microlecture.
I don't know about anyone else, but I thought it was so cool that under normal conditions, we have access to all of these old and primary documents. I really wished we could be at SCU in order to see all of these texts in person. I know that we can still look at some of these sources online, but there's something about seeing these artifacts in-person that's really cool.
I thought the section about the shellfish mounds was especially heartbreaking. There used to be over 400 mounds and now there is only a memorial to one. It's sad to think that all of these sacred places were destroyed because white settlers thought that these piles of shells were trash, not seeing the tremendous cultural importance of these spots. Unfortunately, it feels like Europeans not really understanding Native American culture was a theme throughout all three lectures, and the destruction of the shell mounds is an example of the consequences.
I also thought the shell mounds sounded really amazing only to hear that they were nearly obliterated from history. It makes you think about what other artifacts and creations of major cultural significance have been erased from human memory because of colonization and ignorance about other cultures.
ReplyDeleteI wish we could see the actual materials too
ReplyDeleteWe will have to see if we can at least see some of these materials via screen next quarter...
ReplyDeleteI was also really disheartened by the destruction of the shell mounds. I feel like colonial idolization really affected how colonization occurred and how we remember it.
ReplyDeleteIt is truly disheartening how disrespectful colonizers unknowingly were to these people when they ruined these mounds
ReplyDeleteHi Calvin, glad you found my microlecture interesting. Where did you go on the Ohlone field trip? Was it part of your high school, or through another organization? I know it's hard to think about it now, but eventually the pandemic will be over and you can come visit me in the archives to see the mission manuscripts materials! You can also look into taking a class with Dr. Panich or Dr. Kroot in Anthropology; they usually bring their classes into the archives to work with the Mission Mss.s.
ReplyDelete