La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians
![]() Flag of the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians | |
Total population | |
---|---|
700 enrolled members[1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
United States (California) | |
Languages | |
Luiseño, English, and Spanish | |
Related ethnic groups | |
other Luiseño people[2] |
The La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians are a federally recognized tribe of Luiseño Indians, located in northern San Diego County, California.[3] There are five other federally recognized tribes of Luiseño in southern California. La Jolla has four Tribally Owned Enterprises, The La Jolla Trading Post, The La Jolla Trading Post Casino, The Zip Zoom Zipline, and The La Jolla Indian Campground.
Government[]
The La Jolla Band are headquartered in Pauma Valley, California. They are governed by a democratically elected, five-member tribal council, who serve two-year terms. The current administration is:
- Norma M. Contreras, Madam Chairwoman
- Wendy Schlater, Madam Vice Chairwoman
- Delia Gutierrez, Madam Secretary
- Jack Musick Sr., Tribal Treasurer
- Bill Nelson, Tribal Council Member.
Reservation[]
The La Jolla Indian Reservation (33°15′52″N 116°52′32″W / 33.26444°N 116.87556°W) was established in 1875 by executive order of President Ulysses S. Grant. The reservation is 9,998 acres (4,046 ha) large, with a population around 390.[3] There are about 700 enrolled tribal members.[1]
Much of the reservation land in the eastern Palomar Mountains is undisturbed wilderness. The San Luis Rey River flows through the reservation.[1] The California montane chaparral and woodlands habitats includes diverse native plants, such as Coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia), which provide acorns for traditional foods such as wiiwish.
The reservation contains a public campground, which is open from April to October. The La Jolla Indian Campground features include three miles (4.8 km) run of inner tubing down the San Luis Rey River.[4]
Origin of the name[]
The reservation is located in North County, San Diego, which is different from the neighborhood of La Jolla in the city of San Diego, California. Local Native Americans, the Kumeyaay, called that location mat kulaaxuuy [mat kəlaːxuːj], "land of holes" (mat = "land"). It is unknown what "holes" referred to, but it may be the sea-level caves on the north facing bluffs which are visible from La Jolla Shores. This was apparently translated by the Spanish into "La Jolla." An alternate suggested origin is that the name is a corruption of the Spanish la joya, meaning "the jewel." Although disputed by scholars, this origin of the name is widely cited in popular culture.
History[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/FEMA_-_33516_-_burned_vegetation_in_California.jpg/220px-FEMA_-_33516_-_burned_vegetation_in_California.jpg)
In 2007 the Poomacha Fire (or Mt. Palomar Fire) began as a structure fire on the La Jolla Indian Reservation; it got established on Palomar Mountain, joined the Witch Fire, and entered the Agua Tibia Wilderness. Because of steep terrain, it continued to burn after all other October 2007 fires were put out, finally being fully contained on November 9, 2007.[5] The fire damaged 92% of the reservation. State and federal agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, provided aid to the tribe in a regional collaboration to rebuild and restore facilities. All of the residents were able to return to the reservation by the end of 2008.[6][7]
Tribal programs and initiatives[]
On March 6, 2011, the tribe worked with the LA84 Foundation and the Nike N7 Foundation to dedicate a new basketball court on the Reservation. The court will be used by La Jolla's young men and women, as well as for games and tournaments organized by Inter-Tribal Sports.[8][9]
The tribe completed a new wastewater treatment facility and has broader plans for management of this issue. The Environmental Protection Agency's Tribal Border Infrastructure[10] program funded construction of this facility, the second such facility in San Diego County, to treat septage from septic tanks on the Reservation. The La Jolla Tribe is also addressing the operation of septic systems by implementing a Tribal Collaborative for On-Site Wastewater Management. With support from EPA, the San Diego Foundation,[11] Indian Health Service, Rural California Assistance Corporation,[12] and Walking Shield,[13] the Collaborative intends to implement an on-site wastewater management plan for La Jolla and other participating Tribes. This will ensure improved water quality for the San Luis Rey River watershed and reduce the overall cost of on-site wastewater management.[14]
Bibliography[]
- Pritzker, Barry M. A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0-19-513877-1
References[]
- ^ a b c "Tribal History". La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
- ^ Pritzker 131
- ^ a b "California Indians and Their Reservations". San Diego State University Library and Information Access. 2010. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
- ^ "La Jolla Indian Campground". Archived from the original on February 20, 2010. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
- ^ "Late October, 2007 California Wildfire Web Pages". FIRESCOPE: FIrefighting RESources of California Organized for Potential Emergencies. November 9, 2007. Archived from the original on October 31, 2007. Retrieved November 10, 2007.
- ^ "Volunteerism, help of friends speed recovery of La Jolla tribe". San Diego Union-Tribune. August 15, 2008. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
- ^ "Trial by Fire: The La Jolla Indian Disaster Regional Collaboration & Tribal Partnerships". San Diego Union-Tribune. April 28, 2010. Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
- ^ "Inter-Tribal Sports". Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "NEWS: La Jolla Reservation Basketball Court Dedication". May 3, 2011. Archived from the original on May 5, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Tribal Border Infrastructure Program 2010 – Region 9 : Grants". EPA. Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "The San Diego Foundation". Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Rural California Assistance Corporation". Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Walking Shield". Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Tribal Accomplishments & Issues Report 2007" (PDF). Native American Environmental Protection Coalition. May 22, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
External links[]
- Luiseño
- California Mission Indians
- Native American tribes in California
- Federally recognized tribes in the United States
- Native American tribes in San Diego County, California