The Critical Missions Studies Project at UC Santa Cruz

Our goal is to explore Amah Mutsun perspectives of and experiences at Mission San Juan Bautista and Mission Santa Cruz missions. Drawing from these perspectives, we are creating curricula that will disrupt the colonial narrative while highlighting that Native communities exist, that we care deeply about these stories, and that it’s important for all Californians to understand this history.

We got our start as part of the state-wide Critical Missions Project across the University of California campuses. This work continues as a collaboration between the Amah Mustun Tribal Band, Native scholars at UC Santa Cruz, and The History & Civics Project at UC Santa Cruz. We have also partnered with K-16 educators, states parks professionals, parents, and other committed people across the region