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Your Call

Your Call: The dark history of California missions

On the September 14th edition of Your Call, we’ll have a conversation with award winning journalist Elias Castillo about his new book Cross of Thorns: The Enslavement of California's Indians by the Spanish Missions.

He delves into the reality of mission life, the brutal punishment suffered by mission Indians, their captivity and the destruction of their culture. The mission system claimed the lives of more than 62,000 Indians and devastated their way of life. What is the history of California's missions? Join the conversation, with Rose Aguilar, and you.

Guests:

Elias Castillo, award winning journalist, three times Pulitzer Prize nominee, and author of A Cross of Thorns: The Enslavement of California's Indians by the Spanish Missions

Valentin Lopez, chairman of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band of Costaanoan/Ohlone Indians, which stretches from Santa Cruz to Monterey and inland to Mission San Juan Bautista

Web Resources:

Cross of Thorns: The Enslavement of California’s Indians by the Spanish Missions

San Jose Mercury: Elias Castillo: Junipero Serra sainthood belies cruel history

Washington Post: Pope Francis to declare Spanish priest a saint, but some Native Americans beg to differ