Mission Indians

Mission Indians. . The Native Americans of Southern California are officially listed by the Federal Government as Mission Indians. This designation has no reference to their tribal origin but rather to the fact that that most of these Indians had been Christianized at the missions. In the San Diego area, these Indians-the Kumeyaay-were linguistically related to the Yuman Indians. The Padres at the Mission called the Indians "Diegueños" to show that they were associated with the Mission San Diego. , The Diegueño Indians were primarily seed-gatherers and acorns were an important part of their diet. Metates and manos, made of stone, were used to grind the seeds into flour. Deer, rabbits, squirrels, rats, snakes, frogs and shellfish supplemented their diet, as well as fruits, berries, and vegetables when possible. Along the coast, families were likely to occupy huts of tule. Inland, the huts were made of brush or branches. , The padres attracted the Indians natives to the Mission by offering them food, clothing, blankets and beads. Once the natives were instructed in Catholic faith and chose to be baptized, they became neophytes. The men learned agriculture, carpentry, and blacksmithing. The woman learned cooking and weaving. The padres encouraged the observance of many feast days and as a result, processions, fiestas, games, and celebrations were frequent.