Meet the People
Key Terms
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Semiarid region
An area that receives little rainfall, about 10 to 20 inches of rainfall per year.
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Maay Xa
A Kumeyaay word for creator, meaning “the water above.”
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Nitrate
A compound containing nitrogen that can have harmful effects on humans and animals. Nitrate is found in agricultural fertilizers, manure, industrial waste waters, sanitary landfills, and garbage. Nitrates in water can cause illness in humans and animals.
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Sh’mulq
A Kumeyaay word for clans, or extended family groups. Among the Kumeyaay, people traditionally lived and traveled in their sh’mulqs.
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Kwai-pai
A Kumeyaay word for the leader of a clan.
Explore: Territory Maps
The lands that the Kumeyaay people have lived on for thousands of years are located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. and the northwest corner of Mexico.
The Kumeyaay occupied a large region. Their lands were located along the ocean and inland, in the river valleys and mountains. Their territory began to shrink after the Spanish arrived in 1769.
By the late 19th century, Kumeyaay lands were vastly reduced. Today there are 13 Kumeyaay reservations in California and a few communities in Mexico. The Campo Reservation is just north of Mexico.
Try These Questions
That is correct!
Historically, the Kumeyaay people migrated to different parts of their territory seasonally. They traveled through the drainages claimed by their clans and harvested plants along the way.
That is correct!
The Spanish pushed the Kumeyaay off their coastal lands and American windmills pumped water for cattle. The Mexicans did not teach the Kumeyaay to make baskets. They already had a basket-making tradition.
That is correct!
Despite these restrictions, the Kumeyaay people have endured. Today, they have their own tribal government and constitution. They are also working hard to preserve their Kumeyaay language and culture.
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Choose Images for Story Project
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Image 1 of 11
Toggle Favorite Kumeyaay people have lived for thousands...Kumeyaay people have lived for thousands of years in a semi-arid region of southern California and northern Mexico. This Kumeyaay man is dressed for a traditional dance. Date unknown
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Image 2 of 11
Toggle Favorite "Most of the clans did a migration every...Michael Connolly, environmental consultant and former tribal councilman
"Most of the clans did a migration every year up through the drainages, through the ones that their clans claimed, and harvested the resources along the way."
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Image 3 of 11
Toggle Favorite The arrival of the Spanish in Kumeyaay t...The arrival of the Spanish in Kumeyaay territory began a long era of enormous changes to Kumeyaay ways of life. This mission was built in 1769 by the Spanish in present-day San Diego, California. 2007
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Image 4 of 11
Toggle Favorite "So we had hundreds of Indian people liv...
Michael Connolly, environmental consultant and former tribal councilman
"So we had hundreds of Indian people living all over the rural areas, in little clusters where they had no rights of citizenship. They had no rights to go out and claim land, on the very land that they and their ancestors had been living on for thousands of years. They were people without a country."
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Image 5 of 11
Toggle Favorite The 19th and 20th centuries brought even...The 19th and 20th centuries brought even more changes to Kumeyaay people. They were not able to live and survive in ways they always had and life became very difficult. The Campo Kumeyaay reservation was established in 1893, where this family was photographed. 1908
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Image 6 of 11
Toggle Favorite "Starting around the 1870s, the cattleme...
Michael Connolly, environmental consultant and former tribal councilman
"Starting around the 1870s, the cattlemen moved up into this area."
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Image 7 of 11
Toggle Favorite Cattle were first introduced into Kumeya...Cattle were first introduced into Kumeyaay territory by the Spanish. Later, the Americans brought even more cattle deeper into Kumeyaay lands. This photo depicts cattle ranching in southern California. Date unknown
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Image 8 of 11
Toggle Favorite "When we found out what the cattle were ...Fidel Hyde, senior technician, Campo Environmental Protection Agency
"When we found out what the cattle were doing to our water with high nitrates, stream-bank erosion, it made a big difference to me and to the tribal members."
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Image 9 of 11
Toggle Favorite In spite of the difficult changes the Ku...In spite of the difficult changes the Kumeyaay people endured, they are thriving today. Since 1976, the Campo Kumeyaay have governed under their own constitution. They operate their own fire department and medical facilities and provide many other services for Campo Kumeyaay citizens. 2010
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Image 10 of 11
Toggle Favorite "And in 1975, the tribe adopted its firs...
Michael Connolly, environmental consultant and former tribal councilman
"And in 1975, the tribe adopted its first constitution."
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Image 11 of 11
Toggle Favorite The Campo Environmental Protection Agenc...The Campo Environmental Protection Agency works to keep the environment healthy. 2010
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