Ascension Solorsano de Cervantes

Transcription

1 Ascension Solorsano de Cervantes

2 Learning Objectives 1. Was Ascension Solorsano the first or last fluent speaker of her language? 2. What language did she speak? 3. Name the man who helped her preserve her language so, you may know who worked along her side. 4. Where was she buried? 5. How did her work change the world today?

3 Ascension s Culture -The culture of the Amah Mutsun was a matriarchal society. -In this culture, all living things had their own spirits. Her people took responsibility to protect the animals and plants of their land. Although her people hunted and killed animals for food, they showed respect to all creatures--even in death. Animals believed to be sacred, such as bears, were not killed. -Some Amah Mutsuns converted to Christianity in the late 1700s when the Spanish invaded. Seeing the Spanish as powerful, this group felt it wise to learn Spanish ways. They later found it difficult to return to their old ways of life. -The Spanish missions had a very negative effect to the Amah Mutsun culture, and made the Amah Mutsun population decline steeply.

4 Who was she? -Ascension Solorsano was a famous woman from the Amah Mutsun tribal band. - She was the last fluent speaker of the Mutsun language. This photo of Ascension shortly before she passed away. Photo from:

5 Ascension s Childhood -Ascension s mother was Barbara -Barbara and her husband, Miguel, Serra Solorsano, a Mutsun Indian. Ascension to learn the Amah Mutsun language, stories and songs. She learned the skills needed for survival that later made her a great doctor and tribal leader. Photo from San Juan Bautista by Joseph McMahon.

6 -Asencion was a well-known healer in her tribe who provided her own herbal remedies for the sick. A skilled woman -The picture on the left shows some herbal remedies that includes leaves, tobacco, and acorns. Photo from: medicinal-properties-of-commonherbs-and-spices/

7 A caring woman - Asccension was a very caring, humble woman who also provided food and medicine to those in need of her help--even for those who came for help from other groups. - The picture on the left shows a variety of food. A typical Mutsun diet included acorns, hazelnuts, berries, deer, rabbit, elk, geese, and much more.

8 Amah Mutsun Land -The Amah Mutsun were gifted with marvelous land. They believed they were placed in the land of Popelouchum and given such mild climates. They had resources for food from both the land and sea, and they protected both as their Creator wanted them to. Their land offered warm weather throughout most of the year. It also offered tule reeds and willow lto build their homes and boats Ascension and other women in her tribe were able to gather plants, seeds, acorns and berries to eat from their land.

9 Map of Amah Mutsun territory From:

10 Ascension s Language -She spoke the Amah Mutsun language. Amah Mutsun is a Costanoan language, part of the Utian language family. It was spoken by the Native Americans who lived around San Juan Bautista, San Benito, Hollister and Gilroy (area seen in the previous slide). The Amah Mutsun language was spoken by an estimate 7,000 peopleat the time of first contact European contact in the late 1700s.

11 Ascension s Contributions - With the help of the scholar John P. Harrington, Ascension was able to help preserve her language for today s descendants. - John P. Harrington was an American linguist/ethnologist who worked all his life to preserve the languages and customs of native people. - Both these photos show John P. Harrington. - Photo from: From:

12 Ascension s Contributions (continued) -John P. Harrington and Ascension were able to create a collection of Amah Mutsun works. -They recorded the words and grammar of the Mutsun language. -They also wrote down many practices, stories, customs, and beliefs of the Amah Mutsun tribe. -Ascension helped raise awareness of her tribe all across the world. -Her everlasting hard work was all for her people. She hoped they would be able to learn their way back into their heritage so they could take care of the Earth within their tribal territory just as their Creator wanted.

13 In Loving Memory of Ascension -Ascension Solorsano passed away in She is buried at the Mission San Juan Bautista. -Her funeral was one of the largest burials in the county. -Her funeral not only paid respect to her, but to the Amah Mutsun people as well because her work represented her people. This is a photo of Mission San Juan Bautista. From:

14 These are pictures of Ascension s cross and plaque. From: fg.cgi?page=gr&grid=

15 Fun Facts Solorsano Middle School in Gilroy is named after Ascension Solorsano. Ascension inspired an opera singer, Helene Joseph-Weil, to bring her story to life through opera. Ascension s vivid memory, spiritual will-power and friendship with John P. Harrington helped construct 67,500 pages of field notes regarding her ways and people. Ascension was born during the Mexican War.At age 13, Ascension went into a coma, but awoke from it saying that she had traveled to the land of the dead, but was told that it was not her time yet. - Some of Ascension s descendants are Tony Corona, great grandson. Martha Herrera, granddaughter, and Joseph Mondragon, grandson.

16 Sources Links: AMLT_Strategic_Plan_Draft_v11.compressed.pdf Books: San Juan Bautista by Joseph McMahon, Carla Hendershot, and the Plaza History Association Mission San Juan Bautista by Allison Stark Draper