Rosario Cooper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rosario Cooper
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Rosario Cooper, sitting outside her home near Arroyo Grande during her linguistic work with John P. Harrington; left to right: Mauro Soto (Rosario's husband), J. P. Harrington, Frank Olivas Jr. (Rosario's grandson), and Rosario Cooper
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| Born | October 5, 1845 |
| Died | June 15, 1917 (aged 71) |
| Known for | Last known speaker of the tiłhini language |
| Children | Francisco Olivas |
| Parent(s) | Ana Maria Higuera and Valentin "Frank" Cooper |
Rosario Cooper (1845–1917) was a yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini woman. This means she was a Northern Chumash person. She was the last known speaker of the tiłhini language. This language is also called Obispeño Chumash.
Rosario had not spoken or heard her native language much since she was a young child. Later in her life, she worked with a language expert named J.P. Harrington. They worked together to remember as much of her language as possible. They documented some grammar, place names, songs, and cultural knowledge. Rosario Cooper is seen as the last person to speak Obispeño. However, efforts have recently begun to bring the language back to life.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Rosario Cooper was born on October 5, 1845. Her father, Dr. Valentin "Frank" Cooper, was a doctor from England. Her mother, Ana Maria Higuera, was from the La Purisima Mission. This area is now in Santa Barbara County.
After her mother passed away in 1851, Rosario was raised by her older sister, Agostina. When she worked with Harrington, Rosario was married to her third husband, Mauro Soto. They lived in the Lopez Canyon area near Arroyo Grande. Rosario had at least three children. Only one of them lived past infancy. Her son, Francisco Olivas, had several children and grandchildren. Many of them still live in California. They continue Rosario Cooper's important legacy.
Rosario was baptized by a Franciscan priest in San Luis Obispo. She followed both Roman Catholic and Native beliefs. Rosario also knew a lot about healing. She understood how to use native plants for medicine. She also helped deliver babies. Just before she died in 1917, Rosario helped deliver one of her great-granddaughters.
Homestead Act of 1862
Rosario Cooper applied for land under the Homestead Act of 1862. She received 160 acres of land in San Luis Obispo County. Her application was completed on November 28, 1896. The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed people to claim land. However, it also greatly affected many Native American communities. It led to many Indigenous people losing their traditional lands.
Working with J.P. Harrington
From 1914 to 1916, Rosario Cooper worked with the linguist J.P. Harrington. They spent about six or seven weeks together. Their goal was to record what Rosario remembered of her native language, Obispeño.
They faced challenges. Rosario's health was declining, and she was getting older. Also, she had likely not spoken her language since she was a child. Despite this, they worked hard. They documented important language and cultural information. This knowledge was about the Indigenous people who lived in what is now San Luis Obispo County.
Harrington's main focus was the Obispeño language. He wanted to document its grammar. But through their talks, they also recorded other cultural knowledge. This included information about traditional items, food, and beliefs. They also noted place names, songs, and dances. Rosario also shared stories from her youth. These stories showed the important people and relationships in her life.
Material Culture
Rosario remembered watching her mother as a child. Her mother would start fires by rubbing sticks together. She also made hairbrushes with glass beads to sell. Rosario also described a game. It was played by Yokuts natives using walnuts filled with a tar-like substance called brea.
Traditional Foods and Plants
Cooper also talked about traditional plant foods. Native women gathered and prepared these foods. Examples include islay (a type of cherry) and acorns. Since they lived near the California coast, Rosario also spoke about marine foods. They collected clams at Avila Beach. They also used sea urchins for food and medicine.
Indigenous Beliefs and Practices
During their interviews, Cooper told Harrington about spiritual practices. She shared stories about how these practices affected people. She mentioned that some of her half-siblings had died due to such practices. Cooper also told a story about her own mother. Her mother was "bewitched" and sought help from a medicine-man. He used fasting, singing, and blood-letting to heal her.
Spanish people brought Catholicism to California. This changed some native beliefs. However, Cooper said the Chumash believed in the sun, moon, stars, Bear, and Coyote. Cooper also remembered older Chumash women. They would offer sacrifices off the coast to marine animals. These included dolphins and swordfish.
Place Names
Cooper also told Harrington about a place name: tstʸɨwɨ. This name was later used to find an archaeological site at Pecho Creek. In 2015, a study was done at this site by California Polytechnic State University. Rosario's great-great-granddaughter observed this study. The findings gave important information. They showed how Indigenous lifestyles changed from before to after contact with Europeans.
Songs and Dances
Harrington recorded Cooper speaking and singing in Obispeño. He used wax cylinders for this. Rosario remembered singers and dancers from her youth. She described what they had taught her. Rosario sang 21 songs for Harrington. These included the coyote and skunk songs. She also described the swordfish dance. This dance included a costumed dancer. The dancer would hit two sticks together.
The wax cylinder recordings were later put onto tape. This was part of the Library of Congress' Federal Cylinder Project. You can find these recordings in the Smithsonian Institution archives.
Legacy
Rosario Cooper's knowledge was very important. Without her and J.P. Harrington's work, the Obispeño language would not have been recorded. Because of Cooper's help and Harrington's detailed notes, a written record exists. Students today can use this record to learn the language.
Cooper's legacy has also guided her family and the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini people. They have been able to bring back the dances and songs Rosario described and sang.
The Northern Chumash Tribe worked with California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. They honored the tribe by using yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini village names. These names were used for the university's new residential community. It is called yakʔitʸutʸu and opened in 2018.
See also
- List of last known speakers of languages
