One such group of people was our clan, the Yuhaaviatam ('People of the Pines”) of Maara’yam (Serrano) people, who had remained in our homelands across the Big Bear Valley.As a result, indigenous people who remained on their ancestral lands were viewed as a nuisance and were often the victim of harsh treatment and violence.
Not only did these newcomers want to establish ownership over the land, they also wanted to use it without obstruction. In addition to the Mission system and the agricultural industry, opportunities related to mining and the Gold Rush drastically changed California, bringing in new settlers who created ranches, farms, mines, and logging camps. This feature supported agriculture across the region and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places with the notation that it was built by Serrano men. One notable feat was the building of the Mill Creek Zanja, a massive irrigation system that extends from the base of the San Bernardino Mountains through Mentone, Redlands, and Loma Linda. This outpost held many Maara’yam (Serrano) people as well as other indigenous people from nearby regions, using them as labor for mission support. An estancia in Redlands, modernly known as the Asistencia, was established in 1819.
