The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
PRELUDE TO A NIGHTMARE
The setting sun’s light made the waters of the sea sparkle. Aliseyu basked in its warmth. Hutash had been good to them today. A grand catch of fish would provide a feast for the village tonight.
Aliseyu’s father recounted histories with the other men who paddled their long tomol. Even though he’d heard it many times, Aliseyu never tired of hearing the story of Hutash leading her Chumash people over the rainbow bridge to their home by the ocean.
In the distance, a huge boat with white flags appeared. As it came closer, Aliseyu blinked. Perhaps it was a dream.
On our recent trip to California I learned of the Chumash people who all but perished at the hands of the Spanish. To learn a little more about them CLICK HERE.
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Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Achingly sad. Well done, Rochelle
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Thank you so much, Neil.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A good opening scene to a sad bit of history.
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Thank you whoever you are.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for sharing, Rochelle.
This has been the unfortunate case in many places.
Many such have met with death and extermination- history is silent…
The tale of the victors and conquerors are known. They never reveal their secrets.
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Dear Anita,
So true. I wonder what would happen if cultures took the time to learn about each other? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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As we grapple time and again with the sins of the past, it’s hard to ignore how many of them we are repeating in places across the world today. Heartbreaking, Rochelle. Your title says it all.
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Dear Jen,
We don’t learn much from history, do we? Thank you. Glad you caught the title.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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first of all, they exposed them to diseases, such as smallpox and influenza, to which they had no immunity. how sad.
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Dear Plaridel,
So sad and so true. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, my! This is yet another bit of history with which I’m not familiar. So sad. And I will be reading online about the Chumash. As I’ve said many times before, history is the story of man’s inhumanity to man. Always, one people-group pushes another out, and that chain continues to this day.
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Dear Linda,
I’d never heard of these people until I saw an exhibit in the Maritime museum in Santa Barbara. Of course my curiosity was piqued. 😉 Thank you for your comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Another peope-group I just learned about is the Melungeons of Appalachia. Read a book centering on these folks, was absolutely fascinated.
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This is a hard one, Rochelle. There’s a pain in my gut reading about the Chumash people. You wrote a beautiful, heartbreaking piece. Thank you.
Shalom
🕊️
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Dear Nancy,
It is a hard one. Thank you for your comments. ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
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European colonization spelled the doom of many cultures if not their actual people.
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Dear James,
History is hard to look at sometimes, isn’t it?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I was not aware of this before reading your touching tale and visiting the linked page. Thank you for sharing it with us, Rochelle.
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Dear Keith,
I only recently learned of the Chumash people. Happy to pass the history along. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Always depressing to hear of human subjugating human or worse 😦
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Dear Lisa,
History can be depressing for sure. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you are most welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Thank you Rochelle, a sad reminder of a past world that does not deserve to disappear.
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Dear James,
There is a resurgance of Chumash decendants resurrecting their languae and culture. Thank you for reading and caring.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So many stories. Thanks for bringing them to light.
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Dear Dawn,
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A double barrel of shock..that they were ‘erased’ and that I never even knew about it. Thank you so much for bringing this to light here.
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It’s always my pleasure to bring history to light. Happily, Chumash decendants are recouping their language and culture. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A sad piece of history beautifully written, Rochelle.
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Thank you, Brenda.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’ve never heard the word Chumash before outside of a religious reference. It’s weird to think how many people were just… eliminated after 14,000 years of (I think) relative peace. I looked up the Chumash cave paintings and they’re interesting.
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Dear Michael,
I had the same reaction when I saw “Chumash” on the sign in the museum. As one who reads from my Chumash most mornings it seemed odd…;) At any rate, it is an interesting history. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh you captured this moment in time before everything changes so well. A poignant story. Very sad outcome though this moment is seeming a happy one.
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Dear Laurie,
History has many sad outcomes, doesn’t it? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Maybe humanity will outgrow our destructive nature before we destroy ourselves. We better get growing.
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Dear Nobbin,
I watch what’s going on around me in the world and doubt humanity. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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..This bit of history was very interesting and I really enjoyed the link. Having visited the museum in person, I was surprised that I had not heard of these people before. They contributed so much, culturally, to the area. I can only imagine the thoughts in their minds as they spotted these huge “canoes” with big white flags (sails) entering their waters. Great story.
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Dear Jan,
I was intrigued after seeing the exhibit at the museum. Naturally it sent me down the Google trail. Thanks re my story, m’luv.
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That was a fun museum.
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