The Kumeyaay Indians

Who were the Kumeyaay Indians?• What did the

Kumeyaay eat?• What kind of shelter

did the Kumeyaay live in?

• What kind of activities did the Kumeyaay participate in?

• What was the Kumeyaay’s religion?

• What land did the Kumeyaay inhabit?

• What were Kumeyaay ceremonial occasions like?

• Where are the Kumeyaay today?

• What is the Kumeyaay’s future?

Kumeyaay—The First Americans

Food

Shelter

Activities

FoodKumeyaay were a hunting and food gathering societyKumeyaay harvested plantsKumeyaay hunted on landKumeyaay caught sea life

Food—HarvestingAcorns and pinon nuts were collected in the fall from the Laguna mountains and the mountains of Baja California. Flowers, fruits, grain, seeds, stems, bulbs and roots were gathered in the spring and summer from the valleys, canyons and foot hills. Kumeyaay also ate the agave plant, prickly pear, manzanita berries, elderberries, and pine nuts

Harvesting: AcornsAcorn meal was a basic food for the Kumeyaay.Acorns were gathered and crushed into powder with a mortar and pestle.The powder was then washed over with water in a leeching basket to remove the bitterness.It was then cooked into a cake and eaten.

Harvesting: Acorns This is what the

grinding tools used to create acorn meal looked like:

Harvesting:Agave PlantAlso very important in the Kumeyaay diet was the agave plantThe agave plant was dug up and the root cookedIt tastes like a sweet potato and was very popular

Food—Hunting Kumeyaay hunted rabbit, small rodents, birdsThey also hunted large animals such as mountain sheep, antelope, and deer The Kumeyaay hunting was done year round

Hunting: ToolsThe Kumeyaay used bows and arrows to hunt deer, antelope, and big horned sheepWhen hunting the big game the Kumeyaay attached the arrows made of obsidianFor smaller game, such as rabbit, only a sharpened point of the arrow shaft was needed

Food—Sea LifeThe Kumeyaay collected oysters, lobster, and abaloneThe pieces of shell were used for making hooks to catch fresh and salt water fishAfter the fish and mollusks were caught they could be eaten then or dried

ShelterKumeyaay built their homes from the willow trees that grew so abundantly in the areaThe dwellings were circular domed structures woven from willow branches that still had the leaves attachedMany of these homes scattered along the streams and valleys would be a part of the village

Shelter: Dome Shaped Home

The dome shaped home had a small door opening A large basket or woven mat would be pulled over it at night to keep the cold air out Sometimes a small fire was built within the structure for warmthOften a rabbit blanket was also used as a soft warm covering and grasses were used to soften the floorCooking was done outside in fire pits

ActivitiesKumeyaay activities included:Music and DanceBasketryPotteryGames and Recreation

Activities: Music and Dance

Music and Dance were a part of Kumeyaay ceremoniesThe songs were a way to tell stories about their history and creationTo create music the Kumeyaay used the rattle and the flute

Activities: BasketryKumeyaay created coiled basketsKumeyaay baskets were tightly knit in all different shapes and sizesThe baskets could be used to carry water or intricately designed and given as a gift

Activities: BasketryThe materials used to make the baskets included: Bunch grass, deer grass, juncus and three leaf sumac Many baskets were detailed and colored from beige to black

Activities: PotteryKumeyaay used pottery to store food, water, and cremated remainsKumeyaay also used pottery to cook inThe pottery was made from clay collected from river banks and cliffs

Activities: Games and Recreation

The Kumeyaay took pride when playing games showing enduranceKumeyaay also enjoyed playing games of chanceKumeyaay still play a game today called Peone

Kumeyaay—The First Americans

Religion

Land

Ceremonial Occasions

ReligionThe religious year was observed by solstice and equinox ceremonies, all managed by the kuseyaay or shamanThe kuseyaay were the healers of the villageThe kuseyaay were also astronomersPersonal ceremonies such as marriage and death were performed by the kuseyaay only after certain star movements

LandThe Kumeyaay inhabited what is now San Diego County and Baja CaliforniaThis land includes coastal, desert, and mountainous areas

Ceremonial Occasions

Ceremonies took place to provide for good hunts, seasons, and health of the people.Personal ceremonies also took place for naming, puberty rites, marriage and death

Ceremonial Occasions—Death

When a Kumeyaay died the body was crematedThe body was stored in a pottery jar and buried at a special death ceremonyIt was a Kumeyaay tradition to cut your hair when someone died

Kumeyaay—The First Americans

Today

San Diego

Future                                   

TodayAfter the Civil war, about 1865, Americans started to flood California, looking for new land and new opportunitiesThe new settlers forced the Kumeyaay into reservations The Kumeyaay people now live in many different reservations

San DiegoToday in San Diego, the Kumeyaay are well known for their casinosThe Kumeyaay and many other native people are using the profit from casinos to benefit their communities as a whole.

Future

The Kumeyaay are working to shape policy, create better homes and health services, and provide for themselves and their communityBy remembering the past, the Kumeyaay move into the future, by educating young Kumeyaay on where they come fromThe Kumeyaay are able to continue helping many non-gaming tribes in Southern California from the money brought by the casinos