Author Gary Robinson will sign copies of his latest book, which tells a Native American view of California mission history, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 at The Book Loft in Solvang.
The book, Lands of our Ancestors, provides the Native American perspective through the eyes of a 12-year-old Chumash boy and his family.
Based on historical and cultural research, this novel for fourth graders takes readers back in time to a pre-mission era to introduce Native Californian life in its traditional setting. Then, as the story progresses, that family is thrust into the inescapable horrors that were the realities of Spanish mission life for Indians in the 1700s and 1800s.
“Fourth grade is the time and place Californians get their first dose of historical myth when it comes to learning about the Spanish missions,” Robinson said in a press release. “That’s been the case for decades, but thankfully there is a trend toward teaching a more honest history.”
Robinson is an award-winning author, filmmaker, and artist who has lived in Santa Ynez for more than 13 years.
The book is available locally from the Book Loft in Solvang and through Tribal Eye Productions. It’s also available online at Amazon and IndianCountryBooks.
This article appears in Oct 6-13, 2016.