Selective Memory

As of today, Mission Santa Inés holds Catholic mass on a weekly basis. During the holidays, the mission attracts a large number of Hispanic migrant laborers who live in or near Santa Ynez Valley. A celebration that attracts a large crowd is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe during December. Outside of the mission, a statue of the Virgin Mary and Juan Diego are decorated with flowers and commemorated with a plaque. And just a couple of feet away, a new statue of Jesus Christ is erected near the 13 Stations of the Cross. The statues seem to blend into the peaceful scenery, establishing a calming yet powerful presence. That is,  powerful in the context of maintaining a religious but intimidating dominance on the mission lot.

*All three photos taken by me

The mission revival movement, often associated with the romanticized imagery of Ramona, a novel set during California's Spanish colonial period, was driven less by historical accuracy and more by boosterism. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, elite Anglo-American civic groups - particularly woman's clubs - sought to promote California's past by rebuilding mission sites as picturesque ruins. These restorations built up El Camino Real, which was ideal to attract tourists and investors. By emphasizing Spanish-style architecture and colonial practices, the movement framed the missions as precursors to Anglo settlement and cultural superiority, all while omitting the violence and displacement endured by Indigenous peoples (Kropp 51-73).

At Mission Santa Inés, this selective memory remains deeply ingrained. Chumash narratives are barely making themselves known at Mission Santa Inés and throughout Santa Ynez Valley. The presence of the Chumash nation appears to be hidden, especially with Solvang representing the valley's public image. And today, the valley's demographics reflect that erasure. According to the 2025 demographics of Santa Ynez Valley, most of the population is white, with Hispanics diluted in the mix. However, Native Americans are listed at 0% of the population, although there is the Chumash reservation in Santa Ynez Valley. Whether this omission is accidental or intentional, it touches on the ongoing marginalization of Indigenous communities. 

When tourists visit Santa Ynez Valley, their focus is on vineyards, wine tasting, and photo ops - not the history or the land. Chumash presence, histories, resistance and survival still continue to be buried beneath a layer of nostalgia. However, that layer can be uncovered if one digs beyond the exterior of Mission Santa Inés and past the colonial accounts of California natives.

Citations

Kropp, Phoebe S. "The Road: El Camino Real and Mission Nostalgia." California Vieja: Culture and Memory in a Modern American Place, 1st ed., University of California Press, 2006, pp. 51-73. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.8501233.9.

"Santa Ynez, California Population 2025." World Population Review, 2025, worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/california/santa-ynez.