Discovery, Devastation, survival: California Indians & the Gold Rush

What was the impact of the Gold Rush on Native Americans in California? How were the lives of the native people changed forever as a result of this tumultuous time in history? The exhibition explores the impact of the Gold Rush upon the Indian people of California. Told from the perspective of Sierra Nevada Foothill elders, the exhibition takes viewers on a historical journey with the Indian people of Northern California, seeing their world just before the Gold Rush and experiencing the effect of the Gold Rush on Native people. The exhibition also discusses how Native Californians are keeping their traditions alive today and are working to resolve the issues that began during the Gold Rush era.

As the title suggests, the story is told in three parts: Discovery, Devastation and Survival. In the Discovery section, the exhibition discusses California and the Sierra Nevada before the Gold Rush. "We are the California elders," begins the exhibition, "We still live in our ancestral land, the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Beginning in 1848, thousands of people invaded our homeland to mine for gold. Almost overnight our sacred land was destroyed." The exhibition then takes the viewer on a journey through Native American traditions, beliefs and their life prior to the Gold Rush.

The Devastation section explores the effects of the Gold Rush on the Sierra Nevada environment and the mistreatment and enslavement of Native Americans during that time. It also reveals the repercussions of these violent acts on the Native American community that still exist today.

The Survival section discusses how Native Americans did survive the Gold Rush and how tribal governments are working with local, state, and federal agencies to resolve many important problems and issues that began with the Gold Rush and still continue. The exhibition concludes with a presentation of organizations and cultural organizations that are working to keep Native American traditions alive.

"Discovery, Devastation, Survival" was developed by California State Parks, the California Native American community, and is toured by the California Exhibition Resources Alliance (CERA). CERA is a network of professionally operated museums and cultural organizations that collaborate to tour small affordable, high quality exhibitions that enhance civic engagement and human understanding. CERA is supported by generous grants from The James Irvine Foundation, The William Randolph Hearst Foundation and the California Council for the Humanities.