Yokuts Meeting Place - Orestimba - San Joaquin Valley - California

Trek to the area where Spanish mission padres would visit in the San Joaquin Valley in an effort to Christianize Yokuts Indians. The site was first explored by Lt. Gabriel Moraga and Father Viader from the San Jose Mission in 1810.

[alexischavez]

I take walks and fish by this place near Newman. Every time I’m there I can feel the energy of the people who once lived in the area. It’s amazing

[nmilligan]

Thank-you for posting this. I use your videos with my third graders. We cannot afford many field trips. You help us leave the classroom. My third graders LOVED the first half of your video on the Miwok Chaw'Se site. (Indian Grinding Rock). I am looking forward to showing them this one.

[JLone]

Thank you very much for your time and manner in which you presented orestimba! I really really enjoyed it. You are awesome. Don't listen to the negative folks.

[storiesbyalex]

Thanks for watching - stayed tuned - I am trekking in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and elsewhere...I hope to produce some interesting video. Regards - Alex

[eatsleepdrive]

Just checked them out today, it was really cool to see the signs of ancient life. Some of the mortars were very deep and I did happen to use the shaded wind caves before the afternoon sun came over to take a short break. (It was 100 degrees out)

[jerretrenfro]

I think some of the mortar holes are not for grinding, but, place a log vertical and create a structure. Especially the ones as they cascade down the levels of the rock. Stairs and or ramps.

A greener, lusher, area with a nice outcrop.

[storiesbyalex]

Thanks for watching the video. Prior to European contact the Yokuts numbered in excess of 18, 000 and perhaps as many as 50, 000. In 1833 epidemic disease, probably malaria, devastated the Yokuts, claiming as much as 75 percent of the population. Many were also killed subsequent to the California gold rush.Today there are about 2000 enrolled Yokut in a federally recognized tribe, and 600 more Yokut belonging to unrecognized tribes.

[terrywalker]

What a great field trip!Thanks for taking me along!

[labeef]

Fascinating!! I really appreciate your work! You have taken me places and shown me things I would never see otherwise. I can almost see the people at work. This is truly time well spent! Please continue the journey, there

[storiesbyalex]

Thank you for watching. I am now in Arizona exploring ancient

[btlnckr]

Hi Alex, thanks for the reply. I'm originally from Taft, Ca. and we used to go out by the Aquaduct pumping station and find projectile points by the farm irrigation ditches.

[jetzavala]

Lol I literally go running here next to the canal often and its good to know that a little piece of history is right in my backyard.

[patgibsonguitar]

Nice Video. Thanks.
The mortars are scattered throughout the state. On a hilltop, overlooking the San Luis Obispo Bay to the west, one of my fondest recollections was plundering through the cattle ranches in the foothills just east of the coastal route US101 NORTH, just after you pass Pismo Beach, but just before the US101 heads back inland by the Port San Luis turnoff. Those hills offered not only a spectacular view, but we found caves, mortars - tho not as deep, maybe a foot deep max. - and we were convinced we were camping in someone else's leftover apartment. Dirt camping, yes. Just like in days before us. Ahhh, those were the days.

Party on, Alex.

[barbarawelcome]

Thank you for posting this information, I had my kids sit with me and they all say Thank you.

[storiesbyalex]

Thanks for your comments. Often times the meaning of place is steeped in folklore and I did have a sensing that Orestimba may have had another meaning than what was ascribed to it by the Spanish. In 1916, A. Kroeber from the University of California, wrote about California place names and made the same observation that you have made. Thanks again - Alex

[chetogan]

Alex, what you don't directly point out is that this outcrop provides a good view of a large area to watch out for returning hunters or for enemies. It also appears to be close to a water source, the sycamore trees indicate water. I wonder whether there was a long ago obscured ditch or channel from the creek by the sycamores to the outcrop, long ago obscured by ranchers cattle. Observation point, water, protection in several regards- from the elements and from enemies. For 12 years growing up I lived in Yokut tribal lands, through high school.

[storiesbyalex]

Hello, and thanks for watching. Orestimba is on private land. However, I would recommend taking your children to Indian Grinding Stone State Park near Jackson, CA. A great place to

[cowboykelly]

Cool ! 🤠🖖♨️ Thank you for putting soft Indian singers (+) Beautiful music into your show too .

[randywhite]

I grew up on this creek and herd stories that it was a meeting place and trading place possibly during the fall salmon run you could find artifacts up and down the Creek my mother has a portable mortar from the gravel plant down the creek

[Grottenfledermaus]

Omg Thank you for making this awesome movie.it helps me a lot understanding the Yokut tribe for school. oretimba looks like a nice destination for a day trip. Thank you!