Indian Summer: A True Account of Traditional Life Among the Choinumne Indians of California's San Joaquin Valley [Paperback]

Thomas J. Mayfield (Author), Thomas Jefferson Mayfield (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2006

With accuracy, zest, and insight, _ Indian Summer_ portrays the nearly lost and unspeakably beautiful world of the Choinumne Yokuts and the valley in which they lived.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...A fascinating record of the beauty and biological diversity that the San Joaquin Valley has lost..." -- Wilderness Record

"A fascinating, personal visit to another world." -- Tri Valley Herald

From the Publisher

Published in conjunction with California Historical Society.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Heyday Books (February 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0930588649
• ISBN-13: 978-0930588649
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,269,407 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Inside Look at the Indians of the San Joaquin Valley, January 8, 2000

By 

IR Lindsey (Central California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Indian Summer: A True Account of Traditional Life Among the Choinumne Indians of California's San Joaquin Valley (Paperback)

Thomas Jefferson Mayfield was only six years old when his family first laid eyes on the grand beauty of the primal San Joaquin Valley in Central California. The year was 1850 and California had just been admitted to the Union as a free state. The Mayfield family settled near Sycamore Creek, east of what is now Bakersfield. The Choinume Yocuts Indians inhabited the region and Thomas Jefferson Mayfield later recalled that the Indians were kind and compassionate to these visitors in their land. On many occasions they showed great care for their welfare.

The Indians provided meat and food stuff during desperate times, without ever being asked. After the brief illness and death of his mother, the Indian women asked Mr. Mayfield if they could watch over little Thomas during his many absences. He knew his son would be in better company with them than the white settlers and gladly agreed to the arrangement. For ten years he grew up knowing security and peace with the Choinumne Indians. He learned their ways and their language, their games and hunting techniques.

Conflict was in store for this peaceful tribe; the Monache Indians of the upper foothills and the settlers became overtly hostile. The Yocuts were the ones caught in the middle. Not only did Thomas Jefferson watch the landscape change, but he also watched his beloved guardians decimated by civilization.

This is Thomas Jefferson Mayfield's spoken testimony to historian Frank Latta of those precious ten years. The book is pleasantly laid out in a sequence that is easy to follow. The large print also makes this publication a joy to read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars RARE HISTORICAL COMMENTARY, September 29, 2000

By 

gilbert g. patchett (Richmond, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Indian Summer: A True Account of Traditional Life Among the Choinumne Indians of California's San Joaquin Valley (Paperback)

As a fifth generation native of California, I had never heard of such a case where a white child lived with any of the local tribes prior to decimation and influence of outside influences. The true nature of these early natives is thus revealed with great credibility. This remarkable experience of the young Mayfield was almost lost when he revealed his story in 1928 for the first time just prior to his death at age 85. Still, it was not until 1993 that this story was published in it's pure and beautiful essence for the modern reader to enjoy and appreciate.