Delfina Cuero: Her Autobiography—An Account of Her Last Years and Her Ethnobotanic Contributions

by Delfina Cuero

"My name is Delfina Cuero. I was born in xamaca [Jamacha] about sixty-five years ago [about 1900]. My father s name was Vincente Cuero, it means Charlie."

"With simple elegance the story of a Kumeyaay woman from the San Diego region engulfs the reader, until we feel as though we are sitting at the feet of some great-aunt or grandmother as she tries to pass onto us something of worth from her life. As though her existence among us was not enough. Elders benefit us all. If we stop to listen we may be enriched beyond our wildest dreams. In this powerful and moving book, Florence Shipek makes available the memories and thoughts of a woman who remembered old ways and described the changing scene in terms which speak volumes in simple sentences. Though the autobiography is short, the information contained within can literally change one s entire perspective as to who belongs on which side of which border. How so much could have gone on with so few Americans being interested or aware becomes an ever-growing question as the narrative comes to a close."


Paul Apodaca in News from Native California, Fall, 1989

This book contains not only the autobiography that Apodaca reviewed, but also Shipek s account of the rest of Delfina s life, and her ethnographic notes. Shipek has organized data gathered in two ethnobotanical field trips into the format of an ethnobotany. This book has become a classic, a favorite of teachers and their students, as well as of the general public.

Genres: Read For School, Nonfiction, Biography, History, Historical, Memoir

Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Justin Thillens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Empires are ultimately a series of social contracts that dictate what people can and cannot do. Delfina Cuero recounts her journey through the lands of her people and beyond as two invading imperial powers impose themselves on the Kumeyaay people who transcend the imaginary borderlines drawn by the invaders. Her story sheds light onto how "civilized" cultures stigmatize indigenous peoples as primitive and savage, ignoring the wealth of knowledge about the land and keen insights into how to coexist with nature sustainably.

[Oren · Rating 5 out of 5]

The timeless, unforgettable true stories of someone who lived and loved Kumeyaay land before and beyond the 1900s period of american settlement, militarization and border violence.

[Scott Klemm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this book quite a few years ago for the ethnobotany information at the end of the book. I was interested in learning how southern California Indians used the native plants. Only recently did I pick up the book to read the first part - an autobiography of Delfina Cuero, a Kumeyaay (or Diegueño) coastal Indian born about 1900. Delfina spoke no English or Spanish, and her words were translated by an interpreter to anthropologist, Florence Shipek. I must admit that I had missed out on the best part of the book. Her life story was fascinating.

Delfina Cuero was among those few “old timers” who had memories of the old ways. She never was one of the mission Indians or lived on a reservation. She never stayed in one area for long. Not only did she and her family move in search of seasonal food but were considered squatters by the growing non-Indian population. Squatting Indians were told to leave. Eventually she settled south of the border in Mexico where many of her kinsmen had gone. In those days she had no awareness of international borders. Nor did she know anything about money. She bartered and traded, but sometimes received food or old clothing from the ranchers for whom she sometimes worked.

She related many of the old customs and beliefs. She mentioned how her grandmother was tattooed all over her face although she and her mother were not. “It was a big sin to be hairy, it was a sign you were being punished.” There were also kusteyay (witches). You became one when you had “that dream.” A good dream made you a healer; a bad dream – you made people sick. There was special witch doctor ceremonies and dances where toloache (Jimsonweed) was used to induce dreams. When her husband died, she cut her hair off and burned all his belonging including their hut. “Only when everything is burned can his spirit go into the next world and not have to keep coming back after his things.”

Delfina Cuera may not be a book for everyone. One should not expect it to read like a novel. The writer (Florence Connolly Shipek) states: “I have attempted to make the words and ideas adhere as closely as possible to Delfina’s original expressions.” But, for anyone interested in the ethnology of California’s early Indians, this book will provide a treasure trove of information.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was actually written by Florence C. Shipek, Phd. She was a great friend of Delfina and the Campo Band. The origins of the work were based on work Dr Shipek did for Defina to prove her citizenship in the US so she could collect social security. Dr. Shipek always used to remarked about the contrast between lives of her mother, Florence Connolly born in NYC, and Delfina born in the back country of San Diego. Both women were born the same year 1891, but what a stark contrast in the way they lived!

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an extremely moving account of an indigenous woman's life, Delfina Cuero. She and her family were essentially pushed out of the United States to Baja California, though she is indigenous to the San Diego area. This is her account of her struggles to keep her family alive--they were literally only ever paid in food or cloth for their work, never in money.

[Heather Caliri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating history of one woman’s life as a Kumeyaay in San Diego and Baja California, and a chronicle of the displacement of native peoples and their way of life in San Diego County. Highly recommended for all Southern California residents.

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illuminating recollections of what San Diego used to look like, stories I can barely grasp as happening just two generations ago. This book is such a gem, and represents so much of what can so easily be lost. Thanks to Delfina Cuero we have a voice and a record of invaluable stories set in a changing landscape, noteworthy contributions for sure!

[Alyssa Hulme · Rating 5 out of 5]

I come back to this woman’s experiences again and again as I I consider current and future “immigration”/travel/boarder laws, indigenous medicine and sovereignty, climate change, and abortion laws. So so so applicable. I can’t believe I grew up on her land and never once learned about the native folks who we stole it from.

[Dan Watman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book and story. Gives a general feel how kumeyaay lived. Their traditions and their struggles through the microcosm of delfina's life.

[Annalisa]

i read this for class, so im not gonna rate it but i think this is a really interesting read for those who want to read more about the indigenous experience from their own perspective.

[Heidy Estrada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read recommend to any o e wanting a first hand glimpse of the way of life of the original people .

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

The setting is San Diego County. This short book chronicles the life of a Kumeyaay who lives between three cultures and across the boundary of the US and Mexico. She was raised as a small family, who had a donkey to carry their few possessions. They survived by working small ranches and living in the canyons where they could. Their foraging territory included Mission Valley, the backcountry of SD, Eastside canyons of the US and Mexico and all the way to the Gulf of California. Having no papers, she lost her husband and was forced to make terrible compromises to survive with her children. All this cultural disintegration has a bit of a happy ending when she gets some papers and stays on a reservation near Campo. She had an encylopedic knowledge of useful plants and reinforced others accounts of management of the Chaperral environment.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a book about the pre-colonial tribes that lived in southern Californai. It talks about their traditional developments for survival, including substinance, healing practices, and what they did for fun. I really liked it.

[Elisabeth Newbold · Rating 4 out of 5]

San Diego County was once home to many, many Native Americans. This account of one Kumeyaay woman who lived "the old ways" was very enligntening. And sad too...she had a hard life, due mostly to bad treatment by early settlers: Mexicans, mission Catholics, and ranchers. I'm glad I read it.

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It says that this book is more about ethnobotany, but I found it to be much more like an autobiography. It was a quick read and I found it to be interesting, to a point. I just wish there was more depth in it. Maybe that's part of its charm.

[Taia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truthfully I chose to read this book because it was the shortest on a list of subjects for an anthropology term paper. I wound up unable to put it down. Shipek paints an absorbing and accessible picture of Cuero's many hardships and fascinating life. It is a story that deserves to be told.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I own several copies of this book.