Daily Life & Labor at Mission San Fernando Rey de España

Native Californian Responsibilities

• Agriculture – Planting, harvesting, irrigation for corn, beans, wheat, grapes.
• Livestock – Herding cattle, sheep, horses; branding, shearing.
• Construction – Building adobe structures, maintenance.
• Domestic Work – Cooking, cleaning, childcare, elder care.
• Religious Roles – Instruction, choir, music during services.

Historical Context

These tasks were performed under a mission system that often imposed forced labor and harsh conditions on the indigenous population.