Ernestine Ygnacio-De Soto, who passed away at age 87, served as an important link to Santa Barbara’s Chumash heritage. A prominent leader and spokesperson in the Chumash community, she was the last member of her generation in her family. She was one of a kind, outspoken in her opinions and strongly motivated to protect and preserve Chumash heritage. Ernestine worked closely with others, whether Indian or not, promoting and preserving Chumash culture and history. She was deeply engaged with her Catholic faith.
Ernestine’s mother, Mary J. Yee, was born on the Indian Orchard Ranch along the creek that bears the name of her great-grandmother, María Ygnacia. She grew up speaking the language commonly known today as Barbareño Chumash. Mary was raised by her grandmother, Luisa Ygnacio, hearing the stories of her Chumash ancestors. When the family sold the ranch in 1905, they moved to Santa Barbara and lived at 214 East De la Guerra Street, now a city historical landmark. This was where Mary first met John P. Harrington when he began to document the Barbareño language.
Later, Mary fell in love with Henry Yee, a Chinese vegetable peddler. They were forced to marry in Washington State to avoid California’s miscegenation laws that would have prevented their union. Four children were born before divorce broke up the family. Mary soon met George De Soto, raised as an orphan in a California Indian family in Santa Cruz County. Their daughter was Ernestine, born in the Santa Cruz County Hospital.
