Kumeyaay IndiansKumeyaay Indians

Q 1` `

Who Were the Kumeyaay?Who Were the Kumeyaay?

An Indian tribe from An Indian tribe from San Diego and Baja.San Diego and Baja.

They lived here They lived here beginning about 1,000 beginning about 1,000 years ago.years ago.

““Kumeyaay” means Kumeyaay” means people who face the people who face the water from the cliff.water from the cliff.

Where Did the Kumeyaay Live?Where Did the Kumeyaay Live?

Kumeyaay lived and Kumeyaay lived and still live in San Diego still live in San Diego County.County.

Kumeyaay also lived in Kumeyaay also lived in Baja California, Baja California, Mexico.Mexico.

What Was the Region Like?What Was the Region Like?

There were no buildings, cars or freeways.There were no buildings, cars or freeways. There were trees, plants, rivers, streams There were trees, plants, rivers, streams

and mountains.and mountains. Desert and dryDesert and dry There were deer, antelope, bears, big horn There were deer, antelope, bears, big horn

sheep and many other sheep and many other

animals.animals.

Was Water Important for Was Water Important for Kumeyaay?Kumeyaay?

Water was the basis of life for Water was the basis of life for

the Kumeyaay.the Kumeyaay. They built their homes near the streams They built their homes near the streams

and rivers.and rivers. They created ponds for animals and for They created ponds for animals and for

bathing.bathing. It was used to water their crops.It was used to water their crops.

What Did the Kumeyaay Eat?What Did the Kumeyaay Eat?

What they ate depended What they ate depended on what time of the year on what time of the year it was.it was.

Acorns and pinon nuts Acorns and pinon nuts were eaten in the fall.were eaten in the fall.

These were gathered in These were gathered in the Laguna Mountains the Laguna Mountains and in Baja California.and in Baja California.

What Did the Kumeyaay Eat?What Did the Kumeyaay Eat?

Flowers, fruits, grain, Flowers, fruits, grain, seeds and roots were seeds and roots were gathered in the spring and gathered in the spring and summer.summer.

Beans, corn and squash Beans, corn and squash were planted in the desert were planted in the desert and mountains.and mountains.

Summer rainfall and Summer rainfall and streams made these plants streams made these plants possible for the possible for the Kumeyaay.Kumeyaay.

Who Did the Gathering?Who Did the Gathering?

Women were in charge of gathering the wild Women were in charge of gathering the wild plants.plants.

The people often traveled to different parts of The people often traveled to different parts of the region to take advantage of gathering the the region to take advantage of gathering the best food.best food.

They may have lived in one or two different They may have lived in one or two different villages during the year depending on the villages during the year depending on the season.season.

What About Hunting?What About Hunting?

Kumeyaay hunted antelope, deer and big horn Kumeyaay hunted antelope, deer and big horn sheep.sheep.

They also hunted rabbits, rodents and birds They also hunted rabbits, rodents and birds which they would dry.which they would dry.

They fished.They fished. They hunted year round.They hunted year round. The men were the hunters.The men were the hunters.

Where Did they Live?Where Did they Live?

They built their home They built their home out of willow trees.out of willow trees.

They made dome homes They made dome homes out of the branches and out of the branches and the leaves.the leaves.

If they needed to move If they needed to move on or if something on or if something happened to their home, happened to their home, they could burn it down they could burn it down and make a new one.and make a new one.

Rabbit blankets and Rabbit blankets and grass were used on the grass were used on the floor.floor.

Cooking was done in Cooking was done in outdoor fire pits.outdoor fire pits.

In the village, there was In the village, there was a round space where a round space where they gathered for they gathered for religious celebrations.religious celebrations.

What Did the Kumeyaay Wear?What Did the Kumeyaay Wear? Women-Willow Bark Women-Willow Bark

SkirtsSkirts Men/Women-Basket HatsMen/Women-Basket Hats Men-No Clothing or an Men-No Clothing or an

Agave Belt for Hunting Agave Belt for Hunting Tools.Tools.

Normally went barefoot.Normally went barefoot. Rabbit fur blankets in the Rabbit fur blankets in the

cold.cold.

What Kinds of Celebrations Were What Kinds of Celebrations Were There?There?

Mourning Ceremonies: Occurred Mourning Ceremonies: Occurred when someone died.when someone died.

They cut their hair when a family They cut their hair when a family member died.member died.

They had healing ceremonies. They had healing ceremonies. Used herbal medicine in their Used herbal medicine in their

ceremonies.ceremonies.

Dance and MusicDance and Music

Dance and music were a part of every Dance and music were a part of every ceremony.ceremony.

Usually used a gourd rattle to play music.Usually used a gourd rattle to play music. Songs told of their history or their creation.Songs told of their history or their creation.

A traditional gourd rattle and a modern rattle.

Cultural ArtifactsCultural Artifacts

They make the finest They make the finest coiled baskets in the coiled baskets in the world.world.

They were made of They were made of different grasses.different grasses.

Liked to make designs Liked to make designs such as deer, stars, such as deer, stars, flowers, butterflies and flowers, butterflies and rattlesnakes.rattlesnakes.

PotteryPottery

Pottery was used to Pottery was used to store food, to cook and store food, to cook and to store cremation to store cremation remains.remains.

Most clay was red or Most clay was red or brown.brown.

Most of the pottery was Most of the pottery was left undecorated.left undecorated.

What Other Artifacts Were There?What Other Artifacts Were There?

Clay and stone pipes Clay and stone pipes were made to smoke were made to smoke tobacco.tobacco.

Rock Rock Art-painted/carved Art-painted/carved symbols, animals or symbols, animals or human shapes.human shapes.

Sand PaintingsSand Paintings

What Kinds of Games Did They What Kinds of Games Did They Play?Play?

Kumeyaay loved to play games.Kumeyaay loved to play games. Games were played to show endurance and Games were played to show endurance and

skill.skill. Played during ceremonies.Played during ceremonies. Played a game like soccer where they kicked Played a game like soccer where they kicked

stones.stones. Children tossed acorn shells onto sticks.Children tossed acorn shells onto sticks.

Other Information…Other Information…

Babies were carried on Babies were carried on cradle boards.cradle boards.

Allowed them to be Allowed them to be leaned against a tree leaned against a tree while the mom was while the mom was picking.picking.

When girls became teenagers, their chins were When girls became teenagers, their chins were tattooed.tattooed.

They used a cactus thorn to poke small holes They used a cactus thorn to poke small holes in their skin and charcoal was rubbed into it.in their skin and charcoal was rubbed into it.

Men sometimes tattooed their legs.Men sometimes tattooed their legs. Painting the face and body was done during Painting the face and body was done during

celebrationscelebrations