CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
Messages of Our Ancestors’: Rock Art in Kumeyaay Territory
Throughout Kumeyaay territory a wide variety of rock art exists. Rock art was left by our Ancestors for many purposes – visit Barona Museum to learn about this ancient art form and the different types found within our homeland: geoglyphs, petroglyphs, pictographs, and rock formations.
Pictograph Trail, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Peyii ‘Enyeway ‘Esekáayches:
We Are Still Here!
“Cancel Culture” is the idea that someone or something is ostracized from social or professional circles. Those who are subject to this ostracism are said to have been “cancelled.” The dominant party does the “cancelling.” In Culture Class, we realized that “Cancel Culture” really is not new but the way it manifests is different over time. Modern “Cancel Culture” can happen online or on social media. Today we use the term “PC” to describe things you should and should not say or do. Years ago, it looked like book banning. Racism. In our history, it looks like assimilation strategies and genocide. We have struggled to adapt to each wave of newcomers to our land, each wave wanting to “cancel” our culture.
Much of our difficult history has been glossed over, forgotten over time, or it has been interpreted by others without our input in very ethnocentric ways. examines our history from our perspective. Despite terrible hardships and destruction of our once-idyllic lifestyle, we persevered. We adapted. We survived. We are still here!
Although it is hard for us to put this timeline of seemingly never-ending destructive events together, to be immersed in the uncomfortable feelings and thoughts about how our ancestors barely existed at times, there is catharsis in educating others and finally being able to tell our story without the fear of cancellation. Our history is not adequately taught in schools. You might learn something about us today that you did not know before your visit. You might have heard bits of our history told a little differently. Explore our way of knowing who we are and the course of events that bring us to where we are today.
A Visit From Old Friends -
From the Vaults of the
San Diego Museum of Man
These beautiful Kumeyaay/Diegueño artifacts are on loan to Barona from the San Diego Museum of Man. They have rarely been seen and a majority of the objects have never been on exhibit before. Take this opportunity to see these lovely pieces, including rattlesnake baskets and a hopper mortar.
Photo courtesy of the San Diego Museum of Man
