Chief Solano
Baptized as Francisco Solano and also known as Chief Solano, he was a notable Native American leader in Alta California because of his alliance, friendship, and eventually the support of his entire tribe to General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo of Sonoma, in military and political excursions around Sonoma County and the San Francisco Bay Area.
By allying with Vallejo and assisting him in quelling Native American uprisings north and west of Sonoma between 1836 and 1843, Sem-Yeto is regarded as a controversial historical figure.
Sem-Yeto, an epithet meaning "brave or fierce hand," was born about 1798–1800 in the Suisun Bay region of California and lived there the first years of his life.
believe it was more the next year that the move to the mission occurred, giving support to the view that Sina was among the approximately twelve children taken hostage in the battle.
General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo was sent to Sonoma to become the comandante of the new pueblo project, to administer the secularization of the mission, and to keep military control in the region.
Vallejo described coming to San Rafael, stopping to form an alliance with a Coast Miwok tribe there, then proceeding past Novato to the rancheria of Captain Pulpula near present-day Schellville where he found over 3,000 curious Native Americans amassed, led by Sem-Yeto.
Vallejo pitched tents and dispatched messengers to ask all Native Americans in the region to make treaties with the Mexican government.
[4] Once the alliance with General Vallejo was formed, Sem-Yeto and the Suisunes led many expeditions with the object of quelling the other tribes of the region, the "Wappo, the Satisyomis [aka Sotoyomes, a Wappo tribe], and the Cainameros [aka the South Pomo Indians of Cainama in the region toward Santa Rosa]"[5] who were attempting to throw off Mexican domination.
Due to his friendship with and support of General Vallejo, Sem-Yeto was one of only two natives to receive a land grant rancho from the Mexican government.
"Sem-Yeto remained a leader of many regional banded tribes and an influential ally and friend of General Vallejo until the Mexicans lost control of the state in 1846.
In 1846, at the end of the Bear Flag Revolt when California became part of the United States, General Vallejo was taken prisoner by Americans at Sutter's Fort and presumed dead.
[8] In this legend, young Sem-Yeto was convinced by Chief Malica to flee the battleground suicide as the rightful leader of the remainder of the tribe, with the few that fled into the hills.
According to legend his gravesite is on the campus of Solano Community College,[9] where sightings of a tall Native ghost have been reported.
[10] In a Fourth of July speech of 1876, General Vallejo describes a deep friendship and appreciation for Sem-Yeto whom he says should be called a prince.
