Echoes from the Past

Yesterday, proudly perched on the gate to the Fence line Trail at Caswell Memorial State Park where I work as a summer maintenance aide, we found this curious item. It is an oak gall about the size of an apple with an array of various bird feathers suck into it. I can only assume it was made by one of our families that like to hike our trails. It seems very fitting since Caswell MSP has a rich Indigenous American history. It is thought to be the site of the first use of cannons on the Yokuts by the Mexican Army. Cannon balls have been found on the adjacent farmland. Items for grinding acorns and possible old dwelling sites, along with native gravesites have been found. We can’t even dig new holes in the ground without permission.

So it got me thinking. Is it possible that years ago, Yokut children made decorations out of the same materials during times of play or exploration? There are no items like this in any of the collections that I have found, but it wouldn’t surprise me. I even made one myself. I named it Cucunuchi, Estanislao’s real name in honor of the leader of Lakisamni tribe of the Yokuts people of northern California (c. 1798 – 1838). He was baptized in the San Jose Mission as Estanislao, It is from him the Stanislaus River, Stanislaus County, and the old town of Stanislaus City (now Ripon) got their names. If you visit the smaller day use area of the park, there is a plaque commemoration him.

This got me doing a little more research. Cucunuchi or Estanislao, Is really an intriguing figure to me. He spent some time at the mission learning to read and write. He was described as being “about 6 feet tall and as muscular as a horse”. He soon started leading raid on Mission San Jose and the area surround the Stanislaus River. What fascinates me was the way he carried out his raids. He sounds like a well-trained and an amazing battle tactician. His raids were sudden, usually with some kind of trap, and characterized by no loss of life. He is said to have even carved an “S” on things as his mark. It is thought that he may have even been part of the inspiration of the legend of Zorro. After the last battle using the cannons (which mostly killed or injured women and children) Estanislao briefly went back to Mission San Jose and was pardoned. It is thought he went back to the Lakisamni people to help lead them. Later there was another warrior named Yoscolo who continued raids but did not mind killing settlers if he thought necessary. It is said he wore a mask, another possible link to Zorro. After malaria struck the San Joaquin Valley in 1833, Estanislao went back to the mission to teach others the Yokut language and customs. Another name to put on the “who to visit with a time machine” list I should think.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estanislao?scrlybrkr

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=557