The Mission Santa Cruz was primarily established to convert Ohlone Indians, a tribe native to the Santa Cruz region.
The Purpose of Mission Santa Cruz
Founded in 1791 by Father Fermin Francisco, the Mission Santa Cruz served a specific and critical role during the Spanish colonial era in California. Its main function was to operate as a religious and cultural center dedicated to the conversion of indigenous people to Christianity and the Spanish way of life.
Key Functions of the Mission
The primary uses of Mission Santa Cruz included:
- Religious Conversion: The core purpose was to evangelize and convert the local Ohlone Indians to Catholicism. This involved instruction in Christian doctrine and participation in religious rituals.
- Cultural Assimilation: Beyond religion, the mission aimed to integrate the Ohlone into Spanish colonial society by teaching them European agricultural methods, crafts, and social customs.
- Agricultural Production: Missions often functioned as self-sufficient communities, growing crops and raising livestock to support their inhabitants and sometimes to trade with other settlements.
The Ohlone people, who have deep historical roots in the Santa Cruz area, continue to have activists in the community to this day, reflecting their enduring connection to the land and their heritage despite the historical impact of the mission system.
