Esselen
The Esselen were a small Indigenous group from Monterey County, California, recognized for being among the first Native cultures to experience drastic decline following European contact. Their name, "Esselen," is derived from Spanish records referencing a village in their region, as little is known about what they called themselves. European interaction began with the arrival of Spanish explorers in the early 1600s, leading to the establishment of Mission San Carlos in 1770, which sought to convert the Esselen to Christianity. Unfortunately, mission life had detrimental effects on their population and culture, resulting in a significant decrease in numbers by the early 1800s. By 1928, only a single individual claimed Esselen ancestry, reflecting the nearly complete loss of a distinct Esselen identity. Despite this, evidence of their culture persists in archaeological findings, as well as through traditions maintained by descendants who identify with the Esselen heritage. The Esselen Tribe of Monterey County is actively engaged in efforts to preserve their history and protect their cultural legacy, despite the challenges faced over centuries.
Esselen
- CATEGORY: Tribe
- CULTURE AREA: California
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Esselen
- PRIMARY LOCATION: Monterey County, California
Not only were the Esselen one of the smallest of the Indigenous American cultures of California, but they were also probably the first to disappear due to impacts from European contact and mission life. Because very few identifiable Esselen could be located by anthropologists even in the nineteenth century, nobody knows what name they may have had for themselves. “Esselen” or variant spellings appeared in Spanish records referring to a village in the contemporary Monterey County area, and scholars adopted it for the nation without any other information.
The Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno entered Monterey Bay in 1602 and observed many Indigenous Peoples, some of whom may have been Esselen. Actual European contact, however, did not begin until 1769, when the Spanish expedition led by Gaspar de Portolá passed through Esselen territory. The population at that time has been the subject of widely divergent estimates, but 750 is a probable compromise figure. In 1770, Spanish missionaries established Mission San Carlos, originally on Monterey Bay, but later moved to the mouth of the Carmel River. From that mission, which served as the headquarters of Junípero Serra and Fermín Francisco de Lasuén, the padres recruited Esselens for conversion to Christianity and Spanish culture. Mission Soledad, founded in 1791 on the Salinas River, also included some Esselen among its converts. Mission life did not agree with the Esselen, and by the early nineteenth century, their numbers had dropped precipitously. By the time of the secularization of the missions around 1834, both San Carlos and Soledad were nearly abandoned because of the near extinction of both Esselen and non-Esselen populations. Limited significant features of Esselen culture, and very few Esselen people survived the mission experience. By 1928, when the federal government undertook to enroll all California Indigenous Peoples, only one person claimed Esselen ancestry, and that was a one-quarter link of questionable authenticity. Still, it is believed that some Esselen avoided the mission system and were found later working on ranches.
Since anthropologists and other scholars have had essentially no informants on which to base their research, the little knowledge of Esselen culture has been obtained from a few scattered records of the Spanish missionaries, members of other nations who could recall a few Esselen words and cultural features, and the archaeological record. Although some Esselen lived along the Pacific coast and utilized fish and abalone for subsistence, most inhabited the mountainous regions of southwestern Monterey County and relied on acorns and other plants. Since they lacked bows and arrows, hunting was not possible, but the Esselen snared skunks, rabbits, lizards, and dogs. Some rock art, a few burial sites of cremated remains, some chipped-stone artifacts, and numerous bedrock mortars have been found. The relative paucity of artifacts has led one archaeologist to suggest that the alleged Esselen sites were only visited periodically by Indigenous Peoples of other nations, and some questioned whether an actual Esselen nation ever existed. Still, there is evidence of distinct Esselen culture, linguistic and archaeological, though mostly from indirect secondary sources.
While in the twenty-first century, no full-blooded Esselen descendants remain, hundreds of people claimed ancestry related to the Esselen and continued to carry on traditions passed down through generations. Although many still lived in the Monterey area, many have also scattered throughout California and nationwide. The Esselen Tribe of Monterey County is an active organization working to preserve Esselen culture and history and to protect traditional land and artifacts.
Bibliography
"About the Esselen Tribe." Esalen Institute, www.esalen.org/about/esselen-tribe. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Alexander, Kathy. "Esselen Tribe of California." Legends of America, www.legendsofamerica.com/esselen-tribe-california/. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Breschini, Gary S., and Trudy Haversat. "A Brief Overview of the Esselen Indians of Monterey County." Monterey County Historical Society, mchsmuseum.com/local-history/native-american-groups-and-cultures/a-brief-overview-of-the-esselen-indians-of-monterey-county. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
"Our History." Esselen Tribe of Monterey County, www.esselentribe.org/history. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
"Who We Are." Esselen Tribe of Monterey County, www.esselentribe.org/about. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.