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Abstract
The Spanish Missions of California were built throughout the 1700s as a means to convert the
Native people of California to Christianity. These places have been telling their settler-colonial
histories from the perspective of the Spaniards ever since. Most Californian fourth graders still
learn that settler-colonialism was good and useful for the culture of California. A lot of this
information is put forth by the missions, which are still buildings operated by the Catholic
church. The church does not want to admit the genocide that occurred because then the continued
presence of the missions would not be justified. Many Indigenous, Chicanx, and other activists
have been fighting for more historical perspectives to be told within these spaces and within
spaces of learning in California. New curriculum put forth by the state for elementary schoolers
includes Native perspectives from this time period, however, the information within the missions
has failed to change for decades. In order to help inform the general public, I designed pieces of
clothing for a streetwear brand that brings light to these issues.