An American Genocide: California Indians, Colonization, and Cultural Revival

Benjamin Madley With invocation and reading by Tongva elder Julia Bogany October 10, 2017 | ALOUD @ Los Angeles Public Library There’s one major aspect of the popular Gold Rush lore that few Californians today know about: during that period, California’s Indian population plunged from perhaps 150,000 to 30,000, much of the decline from state-sponsored slaughter. Addressing the aftermath of colonization and historical trauma, a leading scholar explores the miraculous legacy of California Indians, including their extensive contributions to our culture today. Join us for a conversation with UCLA historian Benjamin Madley, author of the groundbreaking study: An American Genocide: The United States and the California Indian Catastrophe, 1846-1873. This program was produced as part of The Getty's Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA initiative.