The Legend of the Defense of Fort Ross by the Kashaya Indians

Abstract

The article is a publication and study of a recently discovered legend about the defense of the former Russian fortress Ross (now Fort Ross) by the Californian Kashaya Indians, told by the spiritual leader of the Kashaya Essie Parrish in the 20th century. The published text is analyzed in the article from the standpoint of today’s knowledge about the history of Fort Ross. The article notes the discrepancy between a number of important points of the legend and historical facts; however, in the author’s opinion, it is possible that the plot core of this story reflects an undocumented event that could have taken place only in the very early period after the sale of Ross, in early 1842. At the same time, regardless of its historical authenticity, the published legend is an important fact of the historical self-awareness of the Kashaya, whose ethnic history, which took place under the conditions of Russian colonization, is distinguished by great originality.