Ahwitk Aha is a 24-year-old neophyte that used to belong to a band of Quechan, and now lives in an isolated community in Alta California that belongs to the Spanish on the western edge of the Colorado River Valley. He was brought in for close supervision since the Franciscans required the new converts to live near the mission and apart from their old villages. In addition Ahwitk new diet here in the mission consists of beef and corn. He has plentiful food for working a few hours a day making soap. In comparison from the other local Indians who construct buildings, dig irrigation ditches, erect fences, herd cattle, and cultivate grain, Ahwitk has it easy. Indeed, his life at the mission is much easier than his previous, transient livelihood. A contributor to this would be Friar Ignatius who has previously sent many gifts to Ahwitk.
Furthermore, Ahwitk is not really sure about marriage while living at the mission since he has to practice celibacy before marriage and monogamy within forsake animist rituals and magic. His short period of time living in the mission has still not made him comfortable due to the introduction of a new religion (Christianity). Indeed, he as well as other neophytes still hold the beliefs of relying in spiritual…show more content… Only a severe amount of people live in the town and trade is something that is limited. Indeed one of the greatest threat the community possesses are the town leaders concern about the Indians not converting to Catholicism and their sudden diseases as well as fear that the colonial mission will be jeopardized by the expansion of other Europeans. This threat affects Ahwitk in the way that he has previously lost his home and his search for a better living is on the line. Regardless all the difficulties, Alta California remained the most marginal colony of New
