In studying anthropology at UCSC I found out that I think it was small pox that was killing native Americans between San Francisco and Sacramento

They leaned up against Oak Trees to die because this was a part of the local religions in tribes then. So, one account was that a man said traveling from San Francisco to Sacramento that there was a dead Native American at one point leaning against every oak tree from San Francisco to Sacramento on his journey. This was one of many different accounts I heard of this era. 

All across the U.S. they say that about 90% of the Native Americans died from smallpox, flus and other diseases that Europeans were more immune to because often up to 90% of Europeans died in things like Black Plagues which almost completely wiped out people in larger cities again and again. 

Since native Americans didn't usually live in cities except for the Aztecs, Mayans and Incas further south they were totally vulnerable to all these diseases that most europeans had herd immunity to.

Also, since at least the 1950s Tibetans and Uighurs (Uighurs are of the Muslim religion (Islam) have also and are still experiencing Genocide of various kinds by the Chinese Government ongoing. So, they remind me of how white settlers often treated Native Americans who were threatened by the Native American lifestyle and religions and general ways of life because they were so different than European Christians especially. If you are interested in what Church Schools did to some Native American Children Watch 1923 I think it is on Prime through paramount or direct through Paramount with Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. Though I think this program is fictional it is also based upon what actually happened in places like Montana on down through Texas and even in California likely in the 1800s as well. However, California was always sort of more socially progressive and accepting of other races, religions and nationalities from all over the world and still is. California is one of the number one places people move to from other countries because of the general lack of racism (relatively speaking) from anywhere else on earth.

I tried to nail down the timeline on this. However, the Google AI couldn't seem to find it but gave many other sources to check on if you are interested in studying this aspect of Cultural Anthropology.

begin quote from Google AI and the Internet:

 

While there's no specific historical record of Native Americans dying while leaning against oak trees from San Francisco to Sacramento, there are documented instances of Native Americans experiencing significant hardship and death in California, particularly following the arrival of European settlers

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Here's a breakdown of relevant information:

1. Devastating Diseases:

• European colonization introduced diseases like smallpox, malaria, and diphtheria, to which Native Americans had no immunity.
• These diseases spread rapidly, decimating populations in the San Francisco and Sacramento areas and beyond.
• For instance, the City of West Sacramento notes that malaria and smallpox epidemics in 1833 and 1837 drastically reduced the Native American population in the Sacramento Valley. 

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2. Violence and Displacement:

• The California Gold Rush led to a massive influx of settlers who engaged in violence against Native Americans, forcing them off their ancestral lands.
• This displacement, coupled with the destruction of their traditional food sources, resulted in starvation and death.
• History.com points out that an estimated 100,000 Native Americans died during the first two years of the Gold Rush alone. 

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3. Genocide:

• Historians now recognize the period following the American conquest of California as a time of genocide against Native Americans.
• State and federal authorities, along with miners and settlers, systematically engaged in violence, enslavement, and forced removal, leading to immense loss of life.
• California's Governor Gavin Newsom officially recognized and apologized for the "genocide" committed against Native Americans in 2019. 

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4. Relationship with Oaks:

• Oak trees held immense cultural and ecological significance for Native Americans in California, particularly as a vital food source (acorns).
• The introduction of grazing animals and logging by European settlers disrupted the delicate balance of oak woodlands and the Native American way of life, further contributing to their hardships. 

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In summary: The historical record reveals a tragic picture of Native Americans in California, facing immense suffering and death due to diseases, violence, displacement, and genocide following European colonization. While there's no specific evidence of individuals dying while leaning against oak trees, the devastating impact on Native American communities and their traditional lifeways, including their relationship with oaks, is well-documented. 

• California’s Little-Known Genocide | HISTORY

  Nov 16, 2017 — One of the few survivors was a six-year-old girl named Ni'ka, who stayed alive by hiding in the lake and breathing through a reed. Meanwhile, white settlers and...

  

  History.com

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