She Was Stranded Alone on an Island for 18 Years
Tragic isolated life of Juana inspired ‘Island Of The Blue Dolphins’.
Juana Maria was born in the early 19th century. History does not have a record of her real birth date, but it surely records how the woman spent a decent portion of her life in isolation — completely without any human contact. Juana was ultimately rescued from the solitude in 1853, but the future didn’t promise a long life ahead.
Historians did assemble parts of her life, presenting her life as a tragedy. Why? Because even after getting found, the woman was at sea. Even after getting discovered, the isolation of 18 years left her to stay lost in so many ways.
Let’s dive into the life story of a woman, a native American, whose little world shattered at the hands of European colonialism.
Tragedy of Juana Maria’s Tribe
The woman was from San Nicolas Island — one of California’s Channel Islands. Her tribe was called Nicoleños, and it dwelled on the island for about 10,000 years.
Despite having a long history, the tribe faced a tragedy. Around 1811, a disaster struck when a group of Native Alaskan and Russian otter hunters raided the island, destroying the local population.
Tribe shrunk from a good 300 people to a few dozens. By 1835, only 20 tribespeople remained, with Jauna Maria as a small child.
The worst followed the same year as the Catholic priests asked for the evacuation of the entire tribe. History does not record why the priests requested such evacuation — but several myths echo, which either points towards the sustenance of priests themselves or their aim for conversion.
Only Juana Got Left Behind On The Island
Interestingly, during the evacuation process, Juana went missing. But why was she left behind? History points towards two stories: one claims she went looking out for her missing two-year-old child while the other narrative hints toward Juana searching for her little brother.
Whatever the reason was, the actual problem lay in the ship departing San Nicolas quickly. The ship left in a hurry as a storm threatened to approach the island.
Juana Maria Lived Alone For 18 Years
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The ship that left never returned, leaving Juana Maria alone for 18 years. Historians found the impact of complete isolation on her hard to detail, but what they could conclude was her resourcefulness. She not only hunted seals and ducks for herself but made clothing and shelter.
Upon discovering Juana Maria, rescuers found that she built a hut from the bones of whales and probably lived in a nearby cave.
Juana Maria Was Discovered “Smiling”
A woman who failed to depart with her tribe in 1835 was found in 1853. As eighteen years later, a ship’s captain named George Nidever located Juana Maria.
In his memoirs, The Life and Adventures of George Nidever, the captain mentions the moment when they discover the lady who was busy in stripping the whale blubber.
A person who had been in isolation for 18 years would have darted away from the crew or captain, but instead, Juana Maria smiled and bowed.
She was chattering in incomprehensible language. The captain, in his memoir, further recalls:
She was “of medium height… about 50 years old but… still strong and active. Her face was pleasing as she was continually smiling… Her clothing consisted of but a single garment of skins.
Interestingly, the woman carried a few objects with her to Santa Barbara. She kept bone needles, probably through which she sewed dresses with the help of cormorant feathers.
Nothing about her life exists today for historians as the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 destroyed the place which housed her belongings.
Juana Maria Could Not Communicate With Anyone
Who says that solitude ends when we are around people — it stays if no one understands us.
Something similar happened with Juana. Despite getting rediscovered in 1853, the woman remained alone as she could not communicate with anyone when taken to the Santa Barbara mission.
She spoke a native language that no individual could make sense of. The woman had so much to tell, her life story of triumphant lonely survival, but she simply could not.
Interestingly, till today the scholars have failed to name the exact language which this Native American spoke.
Juana Was Dubbed “The Wild Woman”
When she arrived in Santa Barbara, the locals treated her like a mystery. She was a curiosity as no one could actually talk to her. Sadly, she was dubbed as the wild woman.
Interestingly, in the short seven-week duration in which she got to live, Juana performed songs and dances for those who visited “wild woman” for their fancy.
The fate of Her Lost Tribe
Did she ever reconnect with her tribe? No. A sad tragedy awaited those who had left the island on a ship.
They all landed up in the San Gabriel Mission but did not survive long, as they caught diseases on the mainland. The poor immunity system of Nicoleños left them dead too soon.
Upon reaching the mainland in 1853, when discovered, Juana realized she was the last surviving member of the tribe — a tribe that once enjoyed a long colorful history on the beautiful island.
Juana Maria’s tragic death
Upon reaching the mainland, something similar to the fate of Nicolas happened to Juana. Two decades of solitude brought the worst of her immune system.
When she reached Santa Barbara, her immune system became vulnerable to the extent that she, in no time, caught dysentery.
The woman tragically died the same year in 1853, seven weeks later, after getting rescued, leaving her mysterious life a mystery.
When she died, a priest baptized her on her deathbed. She was already dead, thus she never knew that a priest claimed her soul for the Christian god.
It is from the account of Captain George Nidever that we know much about Juana Maria as record his life story in his memoir The Life and Adventures of George Nidever.
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