Toypurina facts for kids

Toypurina (1760–1799) was a powerful medicine woman from the Tongva people. She lived in a village called Jachivit. Toypurina is famous for standing up against the Spanish missionaries who took over her people's land in California. She played a big part in planning a rebellion in 1785 against the Mission San Gabriel. She convinced men from six out of eight villages to join the attack.

Why the Rebellion Started

The people of the Kizh tribe were very upset with the Spanish mission. The Spanish had taken over their traditional lands. They also controlled the Kizh people's culture and daily lives. Even the "Neophytes," which was the Spanish word for newly baptized Native Americans, were treated badly. They did not like that the Spanish stopped their cultural practices and ceremonies.

The Spanish colonies were a real threat to the Kizh people's land. More and more "Neophytes" were living at Mission San Gabriel. The number of Spanish livestock, like cows, also grew. These animals ate the plants the Kizh people needed to survive. This made it harder for the Kizh people to live off their land. Their anger towards the Mission grew stronger.

Native Americans who were baptized and lived in the Spanish missions were forced to work hard. They were treated like second-class citizens. In 1782, the Spanish governor told soldiers to stop baptized Native Americans from dancing in their villages. In the fall, the Kizh people traditionally held their yearly Mourning Ceremony. This ceremony included special dances. They believed these dances helped the spirits of their dead relatives move on. By late 1785, a "Neophyte" named Nicolás José and others felt they could not live without their dances. They believed not doing the rituals would trap their relatives' spirits.

Toypurina's Role in the Uprising

Nicolás José went to Toypurina for help. She was well-known as a very wise and talented medicine person. Her brother was also the leader of her village. This connection likely made José ask for her help. José gave Toypurina beads, which was a common gift for doctors. In return, he asked her to gather unbaptized Native Americans from the area. Toypurina agreed. She contacted leaders from other villages to convince them to join the revolt.

On the night of the attack, men with bows and arrows went to the mission. Toypurina went with them to encourage them to fight. She was not armed. Toypurina was one of the leaders, but only a few Spanish people were at risk. She lived outside the mission. The number of people living near the Mission had grown a lot. Someone had told the Mission guards about the plan. The participants and leaders, including Toypurina, were captured.

Spanish officials punished five of the attackers with twenty-five lashes. Another twelve received fifteen or twenty lashes. These punishments were done in public to warn everyone at the mission. Toypurina, Nicolás José, Chief Tomasajaquichi, and Alijivit were all put on trial.

When asked about the attack, Toypurina gave a strong statement. She said she joined because she

[hated] the padres and all of you, for living here on my native soil, for trespassing upon the land of my forefathers and despoiling our tribal domains. . . . I came [to the mission] to inspire the dirty cowards to fight, and not to quail at the sight of Spanish sticks that spit fire and death, nor [to] retch at the evil smell of gunsmoke—and be done with you white invaders!

This quote became famous. Some historians believe it might have been changed a bit when translated. The soldier who wrote down her words said she was "angry with the Padres and the others of the Mission, because they had come to live and establish themselves in her land."

Spanish officials found Toypurina and the three men guilty of leading the attack. The three men were held in a prison in San Diego. Toypurina was held in a prison in San Gabriel. They waited to hear their punishment. In June 1788, almost three years later, their sentences arrived from Mexico City. Nicolás José was banned from San Gabriel and sentenced to six years of hard labor far away. Toypurina was also banned from Mission San Gabriel and sent to a very distant Spanish mission.

Toypurina's Later Life

According to trial records, Toypurina was forced to be baptized in 1787 while at Mission San Gabriel. Soon after, she was moved to Mission San Carlos Borromeo. Two years after her baptism, she married a Spanish soldier named Manuel Montero. He had been working in Los Angeles. They received some land from the governor. They lived in Monterey and had three children: Cesario, Juana de Dios, and Maria Clementina.

Historians have wondered if Toypurina's marriage meant she accepted the Spanish way of life. Or, perhaps, it was a marriage of convenience. Toypurina might have married to protect herself from the harsh conditions at Spanish missions. Or maybe she truly loved him. On May 22, 1799, Toypurina died at age 39 at Mission San Juan Bautista in Alta California.

Her direct family members are still alive today. They are part of the Kizh tribe.

Toypurina's Legacy

After the rebellion, Spanish officials arrested twenty-one Gabrieliños. Four of the leaders were questioned in early 1786. Thomas Workman Temple II was the first scholar to study these interviews. He was a genealogist and a descendant of early Spanish residents. He published an article about Toypurina in 1958. Even though some scholars think he might have made some parts more dramatic, his story is seen as one of the most complete accounts of this rebellion. It has been used as a main source in many other articles and books.

Toypurina has become a symbol of Native American resistance to the missions in California and beyond. She is a key figure among Native American women who protested against Spanish rule.

She lived in a society where women held important power. Women were central to the tribe's spiritual life. After Toypurina's death, Native American women started a new religious and political movement. This movement gave power to female gods. It also trusted women with keeping their communities healthy and strong. As William Bauer wrote, Toypurina "emerges from the historical record as a woman who not only confronted Spanish expansion in southern California but also charted a path for her survival and the endurance of her people."

Some old stories about Toypurina's rebellion describe her as a dangerous witch.

See also

• Gabrielino traditional narratives
• Native American history of California
• California mission clash of cultures
• Zorro (novel) (Isabel Allende)