“We need everyone to make sure the place we call home we keep it as pristine as possible,” – CSU San Marcos professor Dr. Joely Proudfit.
The Iipay Nation of The Santa Ysabel Band, the Pauma Tribe of the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians, and the Acjachemen Nation of the Juaneño Band of Indians united in solidarity at this year’s Ohana Festival in Dana Point. These tribes performed ritual blessings and recited traditional prayers in the opening ceremony to commence the weekend. It was important to note that the land the festival was held on was the original ancestral land of the tribes in attendance. This acknowledgment allows the tribes and the audience to give thanks and remembrance to how this land was assimilated, suburbanized, and overrun, but to also acknowledge the perseverance and strength these current tribe members have to carry on ancient traditions and strive for ownership of inherited land.
Taking An In-Depth Look
If we take a detailed look back in history and try to find significant contributions of the Native American peoples to the nation, there are slim to no records. Meanwhile, if we speak with any indigenous group or tribe, we will learn that it is the furthest from the truth. Many modern forms of music, art, agriculture, language, fashion, legal State names, suburban development, and many other major landmarks were heavily influenced by the Native American people. The process in which farmers maintain their crops, or how many grow a strong interest in ecology, derives from the teachings and traditions of Native American tribes.
The Iipay Nation
The name “Iipay” derives from the meaning “the people.” Located on the hillsides of the Volcanic Mountains, the Santa Ysabel reservation is home to the people of the Iipay Nation. Forty miles east of Escondido, on Highway 76, the Iipay Nation resides at nearly 4,500 feet above sea level, cozied into secluded, rugged terrain.
The Santa Ysabel Band is part of the Kumeyaay Nation, residing from San Diego and Imperial counties in Southern California to 60 miles south of the Mexico border. Part of the Hokan group, the people of Kumeyaay are members of the Yuman language; and include the people of PaiPais, Kiliwas, Cocopas, Mojaves, Maricopas, Quechans, Yavapais, Havasupai, and Hualapais. The Yuman language is a vastly located language and can be found in most coastal lands of Southern California.
The Iipay Nation consists of a governing body or council, a police department, and the tribe is currently in the process of developing a tribal court system. The Iipay reservation has created youth programs that are continuous each month that consist of school schedules, reading groups, soccer practices, field trips, and weekend traditional gatherings. The younger generation is crucial to all tribes, and many, like the Iipay people, have created such youth programs to protect the sacred knowledge and traditions of the people.
Pauma Reservation
The First People in Pauma Valley, or the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians, are located within a 600-acre reservation on only a small portion of the original territory established in 1893. Expanding from Northern San Diego to Riverside and parts of Orange County, the people of Pauma hold tradition very close. During forced assimilation over the past two centuries, this tribe, like many other Native American tribes, held onto their culture and their community to push through aversions. Still facing many challenges today, this tribe’s strength and courage is what allows them to stand for generations to come.
Their tribal seal holds much significance and detail. First designed by tribal member Pat Celli Baker, their seal showcases their land as the main features: the forest, the avocado and citrus trees grown in the valley, and the desert floor. The seal is grounded in the visual and spiritual knowledge of their natural environment.
The Acjachemen Nation
Tracing original lineage back to the creation of the Mission in San Juan Capistrano, the indigenous people of The Juaneño Band of Indians, the Acjachemen Nation, still reside in original village territory today. Covering lands from the Pacific West coast, Riverside, LA County, and Camp Pendleton, these people have a significant impact on the development and stability of the suburban areas today. The descendants of the tribe contributed manpower to the creation of the San Juan Capistrano Mission and other major landmarks in Orange County.
The United States federal government, the State of California, and Orange County governing bodies recognized and proceeded with work with the Juaneño Band of Indians, as they are the only tribe that has evidence of shared ancestry with the original Acjachemen people.
The tribe has made all genealogical resources available and accessible to the current known/unknown generations to strengthen and prove a connection to the ancestors of the Acjachemen.
Looking Ahead
Taking all this information and realizing that we still use ancient processes and developments today will give society a better understanding of who Native American people are and how to create ways of showing support to those tribes that are still neglected by the government. There are 574 tribes across the United States that are federally recognized. There are also 80 unrecognized tribes, just in the state of California, that do not receive the same rights, resources, land acknowledgment, or opportunities as the others recognized. We, as people of this nation, have a responsibility to stand side by side and give support through these continuing challenges.
Key Takeaways
Learning about the oppression, culture, and traditions of the Iipay Nation, Pauma Reservation, the Acjachemen Nation, among many other tribes across the U.S., will shed light on what has been hidden in our history books and can teach us how to do better moving forward.
Society needs to become aware of the challenges these groups still face today, whether that is extensive suburban development on sacred land, negligence from the federal government, or minimal representation of Native American people in positions of authority.
Inclusivity means the responsibility to give support and spread awareness through these continuing challenges.
“We need everyone to make sure the place we call home we keep it as pristine as possible,” – CSU San Marcos professor Dr. Joely Proudfit.
The Iipay Nation of The Santa Ysabel Band, the Pauma Tribe of the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians, and the Acjachemen Nation of the Juaneño Band of Indians united in solidarity at this year’s Ohana Festival in Dana Point. These tribes performed ritual blessings and recited traditional prayers in the opening ceremony to commence the weekend. It was important to note that the land the festival was held on was the original ancestral land of the tribes in attendance. This acknowledgment allows the tribes and the audience to give thanks and remembrance to how this land was assimilated, suburbanized, and overrun, but to also acknowledge the perseverance and strength these current tribe members have to carry on ancient traditions and strive for ownership of inherited land.
Taking An In-Depth Look
If we take a detailed look back in history and try to find significant contributions of the Native American peoples to the nation, there are slim to no records. Meanwhile, if we speak with any indigenous group or tribe, we will learn that it is the furthest from the truth. Many modern forms of music, art, agriculture, language, fashion, legal State names, suburban development, and many other major landmarks were heavily influenced by the Native American people. The process in which farmers maintain their crops, or how many grow a strong interest in ecology, derives from the teachings and traditions of Native American tribes.
The Iipay Nation
The name “Iipay” derives from the meaning “the people.” Located on the hillsides of the Volcanic Mountains, the Santa Ysabel reservation is home to the people of the Iipay Nation. Forty miles east of Escondido, on Highway 76, the Iipay Nation resides at nearly 4,500 feet above sea level, cozied into secluded, rugged terrain.
The Santa Ysabel Band is part of the Kumeyaay Nation, residing from San Diego and Imperial counties in Southern California to 60 miles south of the Mexico border. Part of the Hokan group, the people of Kumeyaay are members of the Yuman language; and include the people of PaiPais, Kiliwas, Cocopas, Mojaves, Maricopas, Quechans, Yavapais, Havasupai, and Hualapais. The Yuman language is a vastly located language and can be found in most coastal lands of Southern California.
The Iipay Nation consists of a governing body or council, a police department, and the tribe is currently in the process of developing a tribal court system. The Iipay reservation has created youth programs that are continuous each month that consist of school schedules, reading groups, soccer practices, field trips, and weekend traditional gatherings. The younger generation is crucial to all tribes, and many, like the Iipay people, have created such youth programs to protect the sacred knowledge and traditions of the people.
Pauma Reservation
The First People in Pauma Valley, or the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians, are located within a 600-acre reservation on only a small portion of the original territory established in 1893. Expanding from Northern San Diego to Riverside and parts of Orange County, the people of Pauma hold tradition very close. During forced assimilation over the past two centuries, this tribe, like many other Native American tribes, held onto their culture and their community to push through aversions. Still facing many challenges today, this tribe’s strength and courage is what allows them to stand for generations to come.
Their tribal seal holds much significance and detail. First designed by tribal member Pat Celli Baker, their seal showcases their land as the main features: the forest, the avocado and citrus trees grown in the valley, and the desert floor. The seal is grounded in the visual and spiritual knowledge of their natural environment.
The Acjachemen Nation
Tracing original lineage back to the creation of the Mission in San Juan Capistrano, the indigenous people of The Juaneño Band of Indians, the Acjachemen Nation, still reside in original village territory today. Covering lands from the Pacific West coast, Riverside, LA County, and Camp Pendleton, these people have a significant impact on the development and stability of the suburban areas today. The descendants of the tribe contributed manpower to the creation of the San Juan Capistrano Mission and other major landmarks in Orange County.
The United States federal government, the State of California, and Orange County governing bodies recognized and proceeded with work with the Juaneño Band of Indians, as they are the only tribe that has evidence of shared ancestry with the original Acjachemen people.
The tribe has made all genealogical resources available and accessible to the current known/unknown generations to strengthen and prove a connection to the ancestors of the Acjachemen.
Looking Ahead
Taking all this information and realizing that we still use ancient processes and developments today will give society a better understanding of who Native American people are and how to create ways of showing support to those tribes that are still neglected by the government. There are 574 tribes across the United States that are federally recognized. There are also 80 unrecognized tribes, just in the state of California, that do not receive the same rights, resources, land acknowledgment, or opportunities as the others recognized. We, as people of this nation, have a responsibility to stand side by side and give support through these continuing challenges.
Key Takeaways
Learning about the oppression, culture, and traditions of the Iipay Nation, Pauma Reservation, the Acjachemen Nation, among many other tribes across the U.S., will shed light on what has been hidden in our history books and can teach us how to do better moving forward.
Society needs to become aware of the challenges these groups still face today, whether that is extensive suburban development on sacred land, negligence from the federal government, or minimal representation of Native American people in positions of authority.
Inclusivity means the responsibility to give support and spread awareness through these continuing challenges.
