1. Religious observances:
- Prayer and religious rituals were central to mission life.
- Native people were required to attend catholic services and participate in religious traditions.
2. Labor and work assignments:
- Native people were assigned various tasks, including farming, livestock management, and construction.
- Work schedules were organized and strictly regulated.
3. Conversion and religious instruction:
- Missionaries focused on converting indigenous peoples to Catholicism.
- Native Americans learned Spanish, Catholic doctrines, and religious practices.
4. Agriculture and Farming:
- Native people used traditional farming methods, growing crops like corn, beans, and squash.
- Excess produce was often traded or sent to support other missions or the Spanish settlements.
5. Crafts and Arts:
- Native people engaged in traditional arts and crafts, such as weaving, pottery, and woodwork.
- Some items were used within the mission while others were traded or sold.
6. Cultural Interactions and Exchange:
- Cultural exchanges occurred between the Spanish missionaries and indigenous people.
- Native Americans learned European skills and technologies while missionaries encountered indigenous cultural traditions.
7. Living Conditions:
- Native people lived in communal housing arrangements.
- Housing conditions could be basic and overcrowded.
8. Punishments and Discipline:
- Missionaries often used corporal punishment and other forms of discipline to maintain order and enforce work discipline.
9. Medical Care:
- Missionaries sometimes provided basic medical care to the Native people.
- Traditional healers and herbal medicine were also utilized.
10. Feast Days and Celebrations:
- Religious feast days and celebrations were observed at the missions, allowing both missionaries and indigenous people to socialize.
It is important to note that the mission system imposed significant limitations on Native peoples, including restrictions on their traditional ways of life and cultural practices.