The Story of Juana Maria: Survival on San Nicolas Island

Juana Maria, a woman from the Nicolino tribe, spent 18 years alone on San Nicolas Island after her tribe was removed by missionaries. The island, part of the Channel Islands off California, was first encountered by Europeans in the 16th century. Juana Maria's tribe faced decimation due to Russian fur traders and missionaries. Left behind during a rescue, she survived alone until discovered in 1853. Her story inspired the novel 'Island of the Blue Dolphins', preserving her legacy despite her untimely death from dysentery shortly after returning to society.

Who was the first European to set foot in California?

• Hernán Cortés

• Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo

• Francisco Pizarro

• Christopher Columbus

What was the primary reason for the Russian fur traders' arrival on San Nicolas Island?

• To establish a settlement

• To search for gold

• To trade with the Nicolino tribe

• To hunt otters for their fur

What was the name of the schooner that arrived at San Nicolas in 1835?

• San Juan

• La Niña

• Pior de Nada

• Santa Maria

How long did Juana Maria live alone on the island?

• 18 years

• 20 years

• 15 years

• 10 years

What did George Nidever and his hunting party find that led them to Juana Maria?

• A carved stone

• A basket of tools

• A message in a bottle

• A piece of clothing

What material did Juana Maria use to make her garment?

• Otter fur

• Seal skin

• Green cormorant skins

• Whale bone

What did Juana Maria think when she first saw a horse and its rider?

• She ignored it

• She tried to ride the horse

• She was scared and ran away

• She thought it was a single beast

What caused Juana Maria's death?

• A wild animal attack

• Dysentery

• Starvation

• A fall from a cliff

What happened to most of Juana Maria's belongings?

• They were preserved in a museum

• They were destroyed in the San Francisco earthquake

• They were lost at sea

• They were given to her relatives

Which novel was inspired by Juana Maria's story?

• Treasure Island

• Island of the Blue Dolphins

• Robinson Crusoe

• The Call of the Wild