An Oral History Archive for the City of Santa Clara, California - Austen Warburton
Date Created
August 14th, 1974
Description
WARBURTON, Austen D. 790 Locust Street, Santa Clara, 296-3388.
Mr. Warburton is descended from some of the oldest families in Santa Clara, including the Warburtons, the Arguellos, and the Alvisos. He is prominent in civic business and historical affairs and is the leading authority on the Indians of Santa Clara, the concern of this interview.
August 22, 1974.
Genealogical history of the valley. Sources for study of the valley’s Indians. Ortega’s account of the valley Indians (1769). Indian village sites. Their food supply. The Costanoan people: origin of the name, the village of Tamien, minor raids against neighboring tribes. The shaman: powers, training, cures and herbal remedies, origin of “pioneer” remedies, pay, execution of shamans. Indian view of spirits. Matriarchal society: woman’s role as home-builder, the wikiyap, communal property, preparation of food. Role of men. Clothing. Notion of expanded family. Games: gambling, games of skill, dolls. The sweathouse. Education. Concept of creation, life after death, retention by “Christianized” Indians of old religious customs. Commerce in obsidian. Hunting. Cultivation. Food preservation. Adornment of clothing. Methods of fighting. Taboos. Burial customs. Mythology: current condition of local Indian sites. The Mission: its founding, various sites, the current building, its replicas of original Indian artwork. Length—66 minutes.
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