How Did Life Before California

602 Words3 Pages

Life before the arrival of the Spanish in California for us Native Americans was free because we lived within nature, our traditions, and beliefs. But, most importantly we lived life how we inspired. And we enjoyed of many things we can no longer enjoy ever again, since the arrival of the Spanish. Our life in California now does not resemble or compare to how we lived before. Before nature and wilderness was full of life like we were once. California was full of grass valleys, rivers, and plants (Eden, 24). As we walk down the mountains we encountered with hundreds of trees of all kind, many which now have disappeared or gone extinct. There were beautiful lakes full of clear blue water across the San Joaquin valley (Eden, 24). California was not only home to Native Americans and nature, but to many different types of animals. Before, along the coast there were hundreds of whales, seals, and other animals that resided along the coast water (Eden, 24). Not only were there hundreds of sea creatures but …show more content…

Belonging to the Chumash tribe in California our beliefs revolved around our lives daily. We believe in three worlds, the underworld, mankind, and the upperworld (Chumash, 31). Before the Spanish arrival Chumash tribe members knew and believed that earthquakes in California were caused because of the underworld. The underworld were two giant serpents moved causing earthquakes to occur in our lands (Chumash, 31). Not because of land moving, like the Spanish tried to make us believe. Us Native American also did not believe only in one god, like the Spanish tried to force upon on us, but we believed in many equal gods (Eden, 39). We did not force our people to believe in just one god, because each different tribe had their own god, and we all respected their beliefs and religion because that was our way of life (Eden,