Native American Rock Opera Comes To San Diego

Just about every school child learns about what happened at Sutter's Mill in Northern California in the 19th century. The discovery of gold at the mill sparked the gold rush of 1849, bringing thousands to California. What history doesn't teach us how Native Americans were treated during and after the California Gold Rush. A new musical, a Native American rock Opera called "Something Inside is Broken," attempts to tell that story. Joining me is the director, Jack Kohler. Bo Mazzetti is chairman of the tran eight -- Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians . This story tells the story of the Nisenan Indian tribe , I understand it to be a collaboration. It's a story that happened to all the tribes in California. This whole idea of manifest destiny and the landgrab that happened prior to the gold rush. Our actual story takes place just before the gold rush hits and has Indians used as slaves. Tell us more about the Nisenan Indian tribe in the conflict that they had with Sacramento pioneer John Sutter. Sutter, when he arrived, he built a fort, he only had 14 men and other slaves that he brought from Hawaii. He needed a workforce any rounded up the local natives which happen to be Nisenan and others. Some of them were servants and some are paid, others were forced to be there and they were Captain stockades and they were dehumanized. Some are calling this musical a ceremony, rather than a musical. Why is that? The reason our TriBeCa has sponsored this event is because of the fact that Indian programs hardly get noticed and funding is rare in terms of being able to get enough funding to tell the truth. This "Something Inside is Broken," is the true story. It's not in the books. It's more of a telling of what really happened that's not in the textbooks. We are proud to be part of this, to tell the other side, the Indian side of the story. Jack, you wrote and scored most of the arrangements. Let's listen to the theme song? [ MUSIC ] That's very powerful. That is from "Something Inside is Broken," a rock Opera. What language was that? That was the Nisenan language, which is a dying language. We started to create this story, to revitalize the language and get kids interested in learning the language. Music is the main force in revitalizing this language. I heard low say this is the true story of what happened and the story is not in history books. The story of what happened does not get a lot of play. There are some sectors colors that have taken issue in-house Sutter is portrayed, the worst charges that he was a pedophile. How did you approach that complicated dark history and how much research did it entail? It entailed 30 years of research. I've been studying this since college as well as Alan Wallace, he is the one who organized the research and development. He would send me these stories and we would go through manuscripts written by Sutter's workers and foreman. His foreman tell that he was a pedophile. He had young women between 10 and 20 that he would keep in separate house next to his. He used women, he was an alcoholic. This is complex, it's a dark history why do think it's relevant to tell the side of history now? Most folks, even our tribal members throughout the state are unaware of the fact that the most devastated actions taken to any tribe throughout the United States where the California Indians. The Indian had to deal with the Spanish, the Mexican and the American governments. There were bounties put on the heads of Indians. Most folks are unaware of the history and all of the extinction of California and Indians. It's bringing out, not blaming. We are trying to tell the Indian side of history. We are not putting blame. Here is the history, passing on the truth. It's like a proposition, get both sides of the story. The end inside is not been out there and that's why we are proud to sponsor and bring the Indian side out. I have been speaking with Jack Kohler, director composer an actor in the rock musical "Something Inside is Broken," with Bo Mazzetti chairman of the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians . "Something Inside is Broken," will be presented at the California Center for the performing arts this Friday. Thank you both so much. [ MUSIC ]