This War Is For A Whole Life

Resistance takes many shapes. For Indians of Southern California it ranged from escape when possible to violence and assassination when forced. Acts of civil disobedience incorporated blocking roads to blocking legislation. They lobbied in the halls of Congress and argued in courtrooms while they struggled to secure their lands, natural resources and respect for themselves and their way of life. Whether with guns or law books they fought for the rights guaranteed through treaties which were so callously discarded by indifferent or hostile federal and state governments. However, they never surrendered their beliefs or their homes easily to the Euro-American invaders of their land.

Extensive sections of this abridged second edition appeared earlier in the book, This War is for a Whole Life: The Culture of Resistance Among Indians of Southern California, 1850-1966, published in 2012 by Ushkana Press of Banning, California. New information has been added to certain key figures in the book. This work follows the path of leadership, resistance and adaptation that provided direction during times of confusion, showed strength when outside forces seemed overwhelming and inspired hope when days seemed darkest. Such dark days gave rise to the important Mission Indian Federation which is the focus of this consolidated edition.