| Guachama Rancheria | |
|---|---|
 San Bernardino mountains above Redlands | |
| Location | Loma Linda, California |
| Coordinates | 34°03′23″N117°14′17″W / 34.05643°N 117.2379222°W /34.05643; -117.2379222 |
| Designated | March 29, 1933 |
| Reference no. | 95 |
  Location of Guachama Rancheria in California | |
Kaawchama (Hispanicized toGuachama), alternatively referred to asWa’aachnga ("plenty to eat"),[1][2] was a significantTongva village in theSan Bernardino Valley located in what is now westRedlands, California.[2] The village became referred to by the Spanish as theGuachama Rancheria in 1810 after a supply station was constructed at the village forMission San Gabriel, which then became part ofRancho San Bernardino following thesecularization of the missions in 1833.[2][3]
Kaawchama was located in the far eastern reaches ofTovaangar, or the Tongvan world. Various maps of Tongvan villages place it as the easternmost village of the Tongva.[4][5] TheMohave Trail connected Kaawchama to a vast trade network that extended from villages insouthern California to theColorado River.[6]
WhenMission San Gabriel was constructed by theSpanish colonizers in 1771, Kaawchama was located fifty miles east from the mission, yet soon began to be eyed as a potential outpost for the mission.[6]
The village had been known by Spanish missionaries since the 1770s, yet no European structure had been constructed in the area. This was noted as a problem by the missionaries, who would travel theMohave Trail without a place to refill supplies: "As travel over this road increased it was arranged to establish a supply station at some intermediate point between theSierras on the north and the mission."[3]
In 1810, approximately one-thousandMohave raiders traveled through the village, initially with plans to attack Mission San Gabriel. However, the raid party decided against destroying the mission and instead captured three thousand sheep.[6]
On May 10, 1810,Francisco Dumetz, a padre of Mission San Gabriel, came to the village of Kaawchama, and established the sought after supply station at the village:
They found an ideal location, in a place called Guachama, which means "plenty to eat." The valley was well watered and luxuriant with springtime verdure. The Guachama Indians had here a populous rancheria. A number of other rancherias were scattered about the valley, each bearing a name significant of the place it was situated. Many of the names were retained by settlers at a later day and applied to ranches granted by the government.[3]
It was believed by some authorities that after 1812, many of the Guachama, who were associated with the Tongva people, "migrated back to Los Angeles," which opened the settlement to be occupied by theCahuilla andSerrano.[7]
Rancho San Bernardino became the headquarters of farming and cattle ranching in the area. The Guachama were taught to farm and care for cattle. Zanja trenches were made to bring water to more farm land. Guachama Rancheria from this time was called San Bernardino. In 1819 it was officially renamedSan Bernardino Rancho of the Mission San Gabriel. Due to flooding from San Timoteo Creek, the mission was moved to higher ground in 1830. Some ruins remain at the site.[8][9][10][11][12]
In 1842, Mexico GovernorJuan B. Alvarado gave aMexican land grant toJosé del Carmen Lugo, José María Lugo, Vicente Lugo, andDiego Sepulveda, forming theRancho San Bernardino. The grant covered 35,509-acre (143.70 km2) of what today is part of the San Bernardino valley,San Bernardino,Fontana,Rialto,Redlands andColton.[13][14][15][16]
In 1933, the site was designated aCalifornia Historic Landmark (No.95), listed asGuachama Rancheria, on March 29, 1933. A marker was placed at 25894 Mission Road, Loma Linda, California. Translated from theTongva name, "Guachama" means a "place where there is plenty to eat". There were fresh springs and creeks in the area, thus providing ample food.[8][10] Marker at the site reads:[17]
the Native Americans who lived there called the area Kaawchama (Hispanicized to Guachama) (McCawley 1996).
Wa'aachnga, also known as Kaawchama. This village became the site of present-day Redlands and the location of the San Bernardino Asistencia, built in 1820.
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