The Cultural and Traditional Wealth of the Luiseño Before European Contact
Prior to European contact, conservative estimates say that the Luiseño population reached 15,000. Major villages and gathering sites stretched from the Peninsular Ranges to the Pacific Ocean. The abundance of wildlife and plants on the land and in the water allowed the Luiseño to maintain a relatively sedentary lifestyle in the mild climate of Southern California.
The Luiseño people enjoyed life in a land rich with diverse plants and animals. Our people have been described as hunters and gatherers.
The men hunted deer, antelope, rabbits, wood rats, ducks, quail, seafood and various insects. Hunters used bows and arrows, spear throwers, rabbit sticks, traps, nets, clubs and slings to catch game. Fishermen and traders used dugout canoes in the ocean and tule reed boats or rafts in the rivers and lakes. Family groups had specific hunting and gathering areas in the mountains and along the coast. Individuals from outside these groups only crossed the boundaries of these areas upon permission.
Women gathered seeds, roots, wild berries, acorns, wild grapes, strawberries, wild onions and prickly pear in finely woven baskets. The Pauma and other Luiseño peoples are world renown for their expertise in coiled baskets made from the flora of the region.
At the heart of our traditional foods is wìiwish, a tasty ground acorn mush and healthy food staple rich in protein.
Evidence of acorn and seed processing and shellfish use dominates ancient sites throughout the Luiseño territory. The most visible evidence is the bedrock milling stone mortars used for processing seeds like acorns. These bedrock mortars sites are located throughout our region.
The traditional territory of the Luiseño people extends along the coast, from the north near San Juan Capistrano, south to the Encinitas/Carlsbad area and east to the valleys of the coastal mountains and Mt. Palomar. Today this area is in northern San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties.
Customs & Traditions
Storytelling
Preserving Cultural Tradition
Cultural traditions and archaeological evidence indicate that Shoshonean groups migrated to Southern California between 5000 and 8000 years ago due to severe altithermals. In the Luiseño oral tradition our
Aa’alvikat, in Luiseño, means storyteller and this was the name chosen by the Elders for our tribal library. In our oral creation story, Wiyot, the Creator God, uses his illness and ultimately his death to share his knowledge (ayelkwi) with his children. Through song, story and the literary word the library becomes a focal point for continuing the story of the Pauma People.
In 2005, the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians received a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to implement an automated library catalog, establish an archive of important tribal material and increase the number of library programs. An archive room was established to house original Luiseño/Pauma materials. This special collection of documents pertaining to land use, water rights, archeology, culture, and history were inventoried and digitized during the project. Current programs such as multimedia and Internet classes continue, and new collaborative programs, including health awareness, personal finance and special children’s programs are being developed.
Luiseño Language
A Source of Progress
The Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians is one of six Luiseño groups living in Mid-Southern California. The Luiseño, or Puyumkowitchum, (Western People) are characterized as a Uto-Aztecan language-speaking group. It is believed that the ancestors of the Luiseño originally came from present day Nevada. The Uto-Aztecan language that Luiseño people spoke is similar to the Shoshone language of that region. Unfortunately, all fluent Luiseño speakers in the Pauma community have passed on. It is critical to our tribe to revitalize our language. Some of our revitalization efforts include assisting tribal speakers in improving their skills in speaking and teaching the language so that new speakers are continually evolving.
The Pauma band works with many partners to promote Luiseño language revitalization and has established partnerships with First Voices, the Indigenous Language Institute , and Palomar College. Our revitalization efforts also include the use of online resources and website technology training. Our partnership with Palomar College delivers hands on online language courses that have been successfully used by many of our tribal members. Future plans include the development of a radio station that will use the Luiseño language for public service announcements and language development.
Click below for a demonstration from Annabelle Dixon, one of our youngest Luiseño language students. Can you guess the name of the song?
Charitable Giving Program
Our culture
Pitching in to help each others during times of need has been a long standing tradition of the tribe. On October 23, 2007 the Pauma band and its neighbors became victims of the devastating Poomacha fire. The fire started at the La Jolla reservation near Palomar Mountain and burned more than 50,000 acres and 60 structures within the community. The La Jolla band, a non gaming tribe, has very limited financial resources.
They rely heavily on revenue earned from a campground and funds received through a revenue-sharing agreement set up for California non gaming tribes. Pauma also experienced damage as the fire burned over 5,300 acres on our reservation. In November 2007, the Pauma band together with Casino Pauma held a Thanksgiving dinner for La Jolla tribal members. We donated thirty-two gift cards, each in the amount of $2,000, to each of the La Jolla tribal families affected by the fires. In the spirit of our longstanding tradition for giving to and helping those in need, Pauma tribal elder Lorena Dixon asked that instead of receiving gifts for the celebration of her 85th birthday, that gift cards be purchased and donated to La Jolla families fire victims. An additional $2,000 plus was raised and donated to the La Jolla families per Ms. Dixon’s request.
The following is a brief list of recent contributions made by the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians.
- California State University San Marcos
- Menifee Freedom Crest Elementary School
- Valley Center High School
- Pauma Schools Foundation
- Hamilton School Athletic Booster Club
- Valley Center High Girls Water Polo
- Valley Center High Girls Softball
- French Valley Girls Softball
- Palomar College Foundation
- UC Regents Summer Residential Program
- Round Valley Unified School District
- Noli Indian School
- National Judicial College
- Vista Girls Softball
- Valley Center Youth Soccer
- San Diego International Sports Council
- Young Native Scholars
- Sheriff’s Museum
- Breast Cancer Awareness
- Elizabeth Hospice Foundation
- Lions Club of Pauma Valley
- Toys for Tots
- Animal Friends of the Valley
- Friends of the Valley Center Library
- Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
- Saint Clare’s Home
- Make a Wish Foundation
- Planned Parenthood
- Vista Community Clinic
- Special Olympics
- American Legion
- Interfaith Community Services
- Native American Family Center
- Elder Law & Advocacy
- Warner Community Resource Center
- Rural Community Assistance Corp.
- Native American Child Welfare Association
- Ronald McDonald Home Charities of California
Contact Us
Send us a message
contact
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Town Hall
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1010 Pauma Reservation Rd,
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Pauma Valley,CA 92061
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(760) 742-1289
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Police Department
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1010 Pauma Reservation Rd,
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Pauma Valley, CA 92061
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(760) 742-1289
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Town Library
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1010 Pauma Reservation Rd,
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Pauma Valley, CA 92061
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(760) 742-1289
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Fire Department
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1010 Pauma Reservation Rd,
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Pauma Valley, CA 92061
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(760) 742-1289