When the Mission Bells Rang

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When the Mission Bells Rang" is an imagined tale in picture book form that presents an Indigenous perspective about the California Mission Era. Written by Cherokee author Judith Scott, in conjunction with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, this engaging story envisions how animals and the Amah Mutsun people tried to foil the ringing of the mission bells. Presented in a powerful format that utilizes the Amah Mutsun language, and contains historically accurate endnotes, the story captures themes of community, agency and empowerment.

Although the California Mission era has been romanticized, it was a time of disruption and enslavement. This developmentally appropriate book is an excellent resource for introducing students of all ages to ideas of Indigenous resistance and resilience. In creating this book, Dr. Scott adds a new and needed voice in telling the history of California and the westward movement across the United States.