How did the Native Americans feel about living at the missions?

Answer 1

According to the school system it was a happy place where Indians learned many skills. But they fail to mention the fact that the herds the Missionaries brought in ate or destroyed the indigenous plant life, starving and offsetting the Indians as well as the indigenous animal life, further starving the Indians who were healthy and self sufficient hunters and gatherers. Missionaries promised food and shelter (which would not have been needed if not for their destruction) and lured Indians into the missions, but once there they were sworn to the allegiance of Spain and not allowed to leave unless by permission. To attempt to flee was punishable by flogging. Essentially they were work camps. The Indians were pretty much slaves. Also, the Indians had no immunity to European disease so almost 50% of the entire population was killed by disease alone. Chicken pox, Measles, and malaria had never been seen in the Americas before. The Missionaries may have had good intentions, if you believe that telling one person that their religious beliefs are wrong and yours are right, but their mission of colonizing the Indians, turning the missions into profitable ranchos run by the Indians and then giving the land back to the Indians (they had a ten year plan to complete this goal) was an utter debacle. It is without question that the true impact of the Missionaries and their Missions lead to the rape of both their the Indian people and their land, death, and misery for the Indians who before this interference from Spain had lived a quiet, natural life in a naturally abundant land.

Answer 2

the missions helped them materially in some ways but they were enslaved and their culture was put down.So they helped them and they kind of well made them mad pee on a potty every one pee