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  • From: Don Bowen KI6DIU <don.bowen AT earthlink.net>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Southern California fires
  • Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:22:02 -0700

At 10/26/2007, you wrote:
> The tribes whose permanent homes were in those areas were forced out into
> the "white man doesn't want them" areas.

Okay, I wasn't aware of that...where exactly were/are those places in
today's landscape?

Two quick responses. One area is what is now called the San Pasqual Valley. If you have ever been to the San Diego Wild Animal Park you were there. A well watered valley that became the location of many farms and now grows exotic animals and houses. The reservation in the valley was surveyed by Cave Johnson Couts Jr. When the survey was complete he simply moved the township number by one forcing the tribe into the rocky steep lands to the north and opening up the valley for farming. A few years later Escondido needed water for the growing vineyards so built a lake in the hills, where? on the Indian reservation. Land was taken "for the greater good" and the tribe was pushed further north. The reservation is now the home of the Valley View Casino in Valley Center, one of the areas evacuated in teh recent fire. The reference material is a book called "Pushed into the Rocks".

A small valley in Northern Eastern San Diego County was the home of a small tribe in semi permanent settlements. The valley was well watered and had plentiful food sources. The tribe held off all invaders and maintained control of the valley. They had maintained control over the valley that they were linguistically separate from all other California tribes. A rancher settled in the area and named it Warner Springs. The tribe was allowed to remain and became employees of the various ranches in the area. Around the turn of the century the ranch was sold to a developer who ordered the Indians off his land. They were given little notice and forced to travel to another reservation that was occupied by long time enemies in a mini version of the "Trail of Tears". That reservation was also evacuated.

Those are just two lesser known. Read about the Tulare Indians and the death of a large inland lake for irrigation. And read of Ishi, a Moduc Indian whose entire tribe was hunted to extinction and he was found starving. He lived the few remaining years of his life as an object of study at the University of California.

That's kinda what I meant by semi nomadic..they might have a mountain
home and a valley home, etc. and they would move seasonally, which is of
course a good way not to overuse and abuse natural resources. The
structures could be permanent structures, but they wouldn't live year
around, year after year, in one place.

Due to the mild climate, few had permanent structures. Land ownership for small gardens was based on who used it last. You planted a crop in the last few years you could continue to use that land. Stop planting for a few years and someone else could start using it. Fall was spent in the mountains gathering Acorns. Tribes from all areas gathered together to harvest acorns. Animosities were set aside, Marriages arranged, etc while women sat around grinding holes and caught up on the latest. Winter was spent in lower elevations away from water courses.



Don Bowen Awl Knotted Up KI6DIU
http://www.braingarage.com




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