The Chanjay Era

When Father Serra arrived at Monterey in 1770, he was met by the people of the Rumsen villages of Achasta. The news of the arrival of those foreigners traveled fast through the five Rumsen villages. It wasn't long before "Chanjay", the Headman from the Rumsen villages of Echilat, learned of their arrival.

After gathering much knowledge and offering prayers to the creator, the sixty-year-old Chanjay convinced tribal Chiefs from the villages of Achasta, Tucutnut, Soccorronda, Echilat and Ichxenta to send tribal members to assist Father Serra in building Mission San Carlos and planting crops. When the Mission came into hard times and could not provides for its people, it was Chanjay who provided the Mission missionaries with the knowledge of what could be harvested from the wild for food.

Chief Chanjay's role as a Rumsen Headman was to pass on the culture by his teachings, stories, songs, and dances, organizing gatherings and by conducting ceremonies. He led his tribal members who were mostly young men to the best hunting ground and coastal fishing areas. Chanjay sanctioned marriages and oversaw disputes among tribal members and other Rumsen villages. The villages of Echilat were in constant conflict with Esselens over crops and hunting grounds. Chanjay was always able to out-maneuver the Esselens.

As a consequence of this constant conflict with the Esselens, most of the inhabitants of Echilat were always very young most were under 25 twenty-five years of age. By 1783, 90 tribal members from Chanjay's village entered Mission San Carlos to become members of that Mission. Little did they know what lay in story for them, as upon their joining they were enslaved for life. In April of 1775 Chanjay and his wife, the last adult couples to leave the villages of Echilat, were baptized and given the Christian names of Simon Francisco and Magdalena Francisco. Father Serra as Father-Presidente was responsible for the placing of the entire Indian population in a servile position. If any Indian left the Mission and returned to his or her village, Serra would order the Spanish soldiers to bring them back to the Mission.

Once returned, the Indians were beaten and placed in confinement for a period of time. Chanjay objected to the punishment of his peoples many times. He would plead with Serra to allow his people and other Indians from the Rumsen tribes to return to their villages. Serra would allow Chanjay to conduct ceremonies and gatherings with the Indians under the watchful eyes of the missionaries.