"the place didn't exist !!!"

Mark Christy

"Our Lady of Guadalupe del Norte
The last mission built by the Dominicans was located at a place called Ojá Cuñurr or Painted Stone by the natives, a name given to it because of the 11 cave paintings found in the area, near the Guadalupe Creek. The site was discovered by Ensign Ildefonso Bernal in 1795, about 25 km southeast of San Miguel Arcángel. It was founded by the president of the preaching fathers, Félix Caballero, in June 1834, and named Our Lady of Guadalupe del Norte. This was possible despite the decree for the secularization of all missions published in 1833, because those in La Frontera were excluded, given the sparse population and lack of resources in that entire region. In addition to various fruit trees and vineyards, by 1840, the mission ranches had 4,915 head of cattle, although it is almost certain that these were animals that were the private property of Father Félix Caballero, according to a letter the missionary received shortly before his death in San Ignacio. However, despite its apparent progress, the mission was attacked by the Indians on several occasions beginning in 1837. Since 1834, Father Félix Caballero had enjoyed the friendship of Chief Jatñil of the Nejí ethnic group, whose members assisted the missionary not only in the construction work but also in the pursuit of the rebellious Indians. However, in October 1839, the priest lost control over the natives, apparently due to his poor treatment of them. This caused the chief, leading his people, to rebel against the missionary, who barely had time to escape and save his life. 48 However, the mission was destroyed.
When you pass through the Valle de Guadalupe and take a look at the site, it is located at the back of the museum."

Gabriel Angulo Huerta

"The Mission of Our Lady of Guadalupe del Norte was the last Dominican mission founded in Baja California, in the year 1834. Its establishment was the work of the Dominican missionary Félix Caballero, who decided to build it in the current Valle de Guadalupe. In fact, the valley is named in honor of this mission.
The missions had as their main objective the evangelization of the indigenous people and their integration into Spanish society. The missionaries sought to teach them the Catholic faith, the Spanish language, new agriculture and livestock techniques, and organize their communities under a colonial model of life.
Unfortunately, the Mission of Our Lady of Guadalupe del Norte was relatively short-lived. It was abandoned in 1840, just six years after its foundation.
Indigenous attacks: The local indigenous people, who did not always peacefully accept the presence of the missionaries and settlers, carried out attacks on the mission, which endangered the lives of the inhabitants and made the development of missionary activities difficult.
Political instability: At the beginning of the 19th century, Mexico was going through a period of political instability, with constant changes of government and internal conflicts. This situation affected the missions, which depended on government support for their operation.
Questioning the missionary system: The missionary system, which had been very successful during the 18th century, began to be questioned at the beginning of the 19th century. Its paternalistic nature was criticized and it was considered that it limited the freedom of the indigenous people.
Mission Legacy
Despite its short existence, the Mission of Our Lady of Guadalupe del Norte left an important legacy. Today, the Guadalupe Valley is recognized worldwide for its wine production, and the mission is considered a historical and cultural landmark of the region.
Today, it is possible to visit the site where the mission was located. Archaeological excavations have been carried out and a small museum has been built that displays objects found at the site. In addition, you can see the remains of some of the mission buildings."

Alex Combo