MISSION LANDS

CANDELARIA

California, 1779

We’re expected to send money

to help George Washington, even though we

barely have enough to feed ourselves.

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We came to this remote colony from Sonora,

leaving our Yaqui grandparents, pretending

we’re not part indio—certain priests are willing

to help us change our origins on paper,

so that we will appear to be nearly pure Spanish,

the only settlers entitled

to own land.

Sheep, horses, cows—we have our reward,

but orchards and fields belong to la Misión de San Diego,

where the laborers are captured Kumeyaay, enslaved

without any choice.