Telling the Truth of the California Missions

Telling and Teaching the Truth of the California Missions Conference, August 27th, 2021.



Moderator: Merri Lopez- Keifer, Senior Advisor to the Tribal Council of San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians


“Impact of Missions on Language, Culture, Land Claims, and Spirituality,” Dr. Stanley Rodriguez (Kumeyaay) Director and President Kumeyaay Community College and Councilman of the Santa Ysabel Kumeyaay Nation.


“Sounds, Silences, and Vestiges of California Mission Bells,” Dr. Bernard Gordillo, Postdoctoral Associate of the Institute of Sacred Music at Yale University.


“Centering Ohlone Presence at Mission Santa Clara and Santa Clara University." Dr. Lee Panich, author of “After Saint Serra: Unearthing Indigenous Histories at the California Missions” and Gloria E. Gomez, Muwékma Tribal Councilwoman (past).



“Revitalizing Reciprocal Relations with Land: Amah Mutsun Pathways to Reconnection,” Alexii Sigona (Amah Mutsun) and Annie Taylor, Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, UC Berkeley.


A Conference sponsored by:
University of California Critical Mission Studies Project
Amah Mutsun Tribal Band
Ohlone/Costanoan-Esselen Nation
UCSC American Indian Resource Center
Hosted by Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park (CA State Parks)