17 Conclusions

Hispanic presence in the current state of Oregon, as well as in the other territories of the northwestern coast of the United States, initially had a basic character of exploration and discovery, and later acquired, with the knowledge of the presence of other powers in the area, a diplomatic, commercial and military defense nature. Relations with the natives, though, were not generally of dominance or of a violent character. Thus, in the 1774 expedition of Juan Pérez Hernández, the instructions regarding how to carry out relations with the natives found during the navigation and exploration of the coasts were clear in this regard. These instructions, given by Viceroy Bucareli, would have a decisive influence on the following expeditions of that century, establishing in them that “nothing will be taken from the Indians against their will, if it were not for ransom, or by them giving it out of friendship; everyone should be treated with pleasure and gentleness, which are the most powerful means of attracting them and leaving esteem ingrained.”^[1] The said instructions also stated, regarding natives, that:

(…) under no pretext should they be harassed, or take land by force; because when in some place there are difficulties, he will be able to practice it in its surroundings, taking into account that his main task is reduced to the reconnaissance of the coast in all the latitude that he can navigate, to know if there is a foreign establishment in it, and to bring news of the difficulties, or proportions , for a better examination of the knowledge acquired. ^[2]

In addition, we must not forget that, as pointed out by professor Enriqueta Vila, (in conversations with Spanish press about the figure of Fray Junípero de la Serra, on the occasion of the removal of his name from the campus of Stanford University in 2018), ^[3] during the Spanish presence, the native population of the west coast remained at stable levels, and they were even able to safeguard most of their customs. It was the gold rush of the second half of the 19th century, and the arrival of thousands of immigrants from the east—mostly American miners—that gave rise to what some have described as a “demographic hecatomb.”

Thus, the process that led to the destruction of the Native peoples of the western territory of the United States, and the disappearance of their ancient customs, began after the first contacts with the Hispanic navigators. It accelerated progressively through the centuries, until it fundamentally ravaged their population, due to the arrival of the Americans who traveled there in search of gold. We should not forget that vindicating a part of history should never happen at the cost of hiding disasters, misfortunes, and darkness. But we also cannot forget that the Hispanic presence in that region was essentially characterized by its initial eagerness for exploration (16th and 17th centuries) and by their later enlightened labors (18th century) regarding the study and the description of the territories, the villages, and the cultures that Hispanic navigators and explorers had the opportunity of seeing during their travels along the West Coast.