Serrano creation story starts with the beginning of time and “the creative force” according to The People of San Manuel by Clifford E. Trafzer a Distinguished Professor of History and Costo Chair in Native American studies at the University of California, Riverside. It was an extremely lucky chance that I was able to get in touch with him and meet him to buy his book. Meeting an author of several books and considered an expert in his field of study is not an easy thing to accomplish. I feel very lucky to have done so. Some things are meant to be.
Professor Trafzer and I met at White Rabbit Coffee Company in Yucaipa to buy this book. I have since collected more of his books, but this was the first book of his that I read and asked if he could sign it. We discovered we both shared a passion for local history in particular : the Serrano and Cahuilla Native Americans in Southern California. Having studied the local history in Yucaipa and surrounding cities, I found his book easy to read and exactly what I was looking for to find the history of the First People of Yucaipa. In his book, I learned the Serrano word for Early beings or “nukatem.”
“Everything was alive in the beginning” Serrano elder Ernest Siva stated in this book. He referred to the plants, animals, and rocks as being alive. Then they became people changed over from these objects by the Creator. So here is another creation story that is different from the traditional Biblical one, yet there is a similarity in it. One brother being created with part of another brother’s left shoulder. Eve was created from Adam’s rib.
Serrano history is an oral history passed down from stories and songs. Each member had a different part of the story. So losing one person was incredibly upsetting and meant losing a part of their history. So if you are interested in the early Serrano creation story this book is a great one and its only 147 pages. Chapter 1 The Serrano Way. I have read it and will read it again. But if you want a shorter read. Check out my next post, The Serrano’s Beginning.