This a time of year where we reflect on the people and things we’re thankful for. We trace the roots of this holiday back to the original Colonists and the Native Americans who joined them in a feast in Masachusetts and/or Virginia.

But what about the SCV? We have our own heritage of European-meets-Native American, and, though I can’t say for sure Spaniards gave thanks when they met the Indians of the SCV, it’s not hard to imagine they welcomed resting here and meeting friendly natives who offered to feed them.

Check out these excerpts from the SCV Historical Society and Don Gaspar de Portola’s diary which reveals what happened the first time a European laid eyes on the Santa Clarita Valley.

First some background: In 1769, Spaniard Don Gaspar de Portola set out on an epic exploration of California. He started in San Diego with 63 soldiers, some 100  mules, Indian translators, and Fr. Juan Crespi, the official diarist of the mission.

On  August 8, 1769, the party climbed its way into the Santa Clarita Valley and found some friendly natives:

We entered the mountain range, the road having been already marked out by the pioneers who had been sent ahead very early in the morning. Part of the way we traveled through a narrow canyon, and part over very high hills of barren soil, the ascent and descent of which were exceedingly difficult for the animals. We descended afterwards to a little valley where there was an Indian village; the inhabitants had sent us messengers to the Valle de Santa Catalina, and guides to show us the best trail and pass through the range. These poor fellows had prepared refreshments for our reception, and, as they saw that it was our intention to move on so as not to interrupt the day’s march, they made the most earnest entreaties to induce us to visit their village, which was off the road. We had to comply with their requests so as not to disappoint them. We enjoyed their hospitality and bounty, which consisted of seeds, acorns, and nuts. Furthermore, they furnished us other guides to take us to the watering-place about which they gave us information. We reached it quite late. The day’s march was four leagues.

A multitude of Indians came to the camp with presents of seeds, acorns, and honeycombs formed on frames of cane. They were a very good-natured and affectionate people. They expressed themselves admirably by signs, and understood all that we said to them in the same manner.

These were the Tataviam people, the SCV’s original inhabitants who came to these parts as early as 450 AD according to some sources.

The Spaniards quickly found the easiest way out of the SCV was to continue along the river, along our modern day Highway 126:

Thus they gave us to understand that the road inland was very mountainous and rough, while that along the coast was level and easy of access; that if we went through the interior of the country we would have to pass over five mountain ranges, and as many valleys, and that on descending the last range we would have to cross a full and rapid river that flowed between steep banks.

Another source says the Indians had a lot of grain and were friendly:

Yet another (this time fictional) source paints the natives in a positive, albeit Euro-Centric and somewhat racist, light. The popular book Ramona remarks:

“I think so, too,” said Felipe. “That’s what I have always said. The Indians are the most generous people in the world. Of course they have learned it partly from us; but they were very much so when the Fathers first came here. You ask Father Salvierderra some day. He has read all Father Junipero’s and Father Crespi’s diaries, and he says it is wonderful how the wild savages gave food to every one who came.”

Just goes to show that the SCV has its own rich history of interaction between European and native cultures. It’s a history that we’re still living with today; the name Santa Clarita is derived from the Portola expeditions name for the river here in town.

Maybe it’s the romantic & SCV nerd in me, but on Thanksgiving day I won’t only be thinking of the Pilgrims and their feast with the Indians on the east coast. I’ll be imagining what the SCV must have looked like to the Europeans who first saw it 240 years ago and what life must have been like for the Tataviam who called this place home long before we did.