We are Collecting Authentic Mission Voices
For years, books and websites have told the story of the Spanish Mission system. Too often, however, those accounts leave out the voices of the Indigenous people whose lives, families, and communities were most deeply affected.
The California Missions History Project seeks to change that.
We are collecting stories, memories, and family histories from descendants of California’s Mission Indians. Our goal is to preserve firsthand family perspectives on how ancestors experienced the missions, how those experiences shaped later generations, and how families have remained connected to the missions and the church over time.
These stories are an essential part of California history. By sharing them, families can help ensure that this history is remembered more fully, honestly, and respectfully.
Our goal is to approach every story with care and respect. We understand that these histories can be deeply personal and, in many cases, painful. Out goal is not to interpret anyone’s experience for them, but to provide a place where Native families and descendants can share their own perspectives in their own words, if they choose to do so.
The collected stories will eventually be preserved and shared through the California Mission Guide website.
If your family has a story connected to the California missions, we invite you to share it. Your voice can help preserve a vital part of California’s past for future generations.
Contact us using the form below to start the conversation!
