Indigenous Peoples of San Diego

At the turn of the new year, TPHS will be celebrating its 50th anniversary, California will celebrate 174 years of statehood and the U.S. will reach 248 years since becoming a nation. The new year will mark 482 years since Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo arrived in San Diego Bay. However, for the Kumeyaay, the original inhabitants of San Diego County, the start of a new year is just a fragment of the fabric of their over 12,000 year history. 

“Before the Europeans came, our nation [spanned] all the way from Riverside, through the border and into Ensenada in Mexico and east to the Colorado River,” Ana Gloria Rodriguez, the director of the Sycuan Kumeyaay Cultural Center, said. 

For thousands of years, these first Californians lived in harmony with the land, traversing the area where TPHS now stands. And yet, much of their history remains buried, both literally — with modern development eroding many villages under the sea — and figuratively — diluting past events with white-washed narratives dispersed by colonizers. 

“We were faced with a genocide of California Indians,” Jacob Alvarado Waipuk, Tribal Liason for San Diego State University from the San Pasqual Kumeyaay Reservation, said.

However, even after being subject to continuous attempts at eradication, the 12 Kumeyaay Nation Bands of San Diego County remain steadfast in the celebration of their culture. 

“We’re still alive. We’re still here. Our language and culture is still very strong,” Rodriguez said, who resides intermittently on the Sycuan Kumeyaay reservation in San Diego as well as those in Baja California, Mexico. 

“We haven’t left, what does that tell you?” Waipuk said. “We’re very resilient people. We still believe in our way of life even though we are in another world that was built around us.”

Until the colonizers arrived, the Indigenous peoples of America had no written language. Instead, they passed down their knowledge through different avenues. 

“Art is really how we have been able to communicate historically,” Ruth-Ann Thorn, an artist and member of the Rincon band of Payómkawichum/Luiseño Indians, another local San Diego tribe, said. Thorn’s heritage and time spent living on the Payómkawichum reservation are the driving force behind all of her work as an art collector and documentary filmmaker.

“My grandparents grew up going to residential schools, so we never really talked about the horrible things that happened generationally,” Thorn said. “But as I’ve gotten older I’ve realized how important it is for us to have a voice and tell our stories from our own perspective.”

Many natives residing in San Diego share the same reinvigorated passion for preserving and sharing their heritage — even those who are not from local tribes.

“I pass down my knowledge to the younger generations,” Chuck Cadotte, an Elder from the Lakota Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota, said.  “I teach them what to expect at PowWows [traditional indigenous dance gatherings]: the styles of dance and the meaning behind all of them. I read them stories that aren’t mainstream, but from Indigenous peoples.”

Indigenous students, from elementary school to university, are often a minority in education. 

“A lot of these children are by themselves in these schools, so sometimes it feels scary to want to indulge in your culture and be proud of it,” Marcia Hunter, chairman for the Parent Advisory Committee to the Indian Education Program at San Diego Unified School District, said. 

Hunter is of Mandan, Arikara and Hidatsa (Northern Cheyenne) heritage and has a daughter who attends a SDUSD school. 

“Being around other children that have similar backgrounds really encourages them. It makes them feel nice about themselves, like they have an identity,” Hunter said.

Indigenous students of SDUSD are provided such an opportunity through the American Indian Education Center, a safe-space for not only children, but also adults to connect with their Indigenous roots through smudging, beadwork and pottery.

“I believe it keeps [the children] grounded so then that way they have something to fall back on,” Connie Greybull, coordinator of the SDUSD Indian Education Program and AIEC, said. Greybull is of Shoshone-Bannock (of Ft. Hall, Idaho) and Hunkpapa Lakota (of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe) heritage. 

“Our programs teach our kids it is okay to be native,” Julie DePhillipis, of Aleut (Alaskan) heritage and the Sacred Pipe Youth Coordinator at Southern California American Indian Resource Center, said. “At school they get bullied for the length of their hair or  their regalia, but we protect them and give them a balance in life.”

This kind of community support toward Indigenous students is similarly reflected at a collegiate level, especially at SDSU, which boasts one of the nation’s first American Indian Studies Departments, a Native Resource Center and a Native American Student Association. 

“We try to nurture our students’ mind, body and spirit,” Faculty Scholar for the Native Resource Center Matthew Fowler, who is of P’urhépecha and Chichimeca  descent, said. “It’s a place where they can feel at home because we have a lot of students who are leaving their communities for the first time. It’s a space of solace,” Fowler said.

In fact, many universities across the county are implementing more intensive programs surrounding Native American history. San Diego Mesa College has quickly followed suit.

“We want to institute not just a land acknowledgement, but a program for Native American students, so we can reconnect with the community,” Dr. Thekima Mayasa, the former chair of Black Studies at Mesa, said. “We want it to be a very authentic endeavor, so it’s not just performative.”

Conversely, Indigenous education at a high school level is still limited, with Native American history not currently required for public high schools in the Social Science Department by the California State Board of Education. This is especially true of SDUHSD, where only 0.2% of the student body is Indigenous, amounting to about 25 students across the four schools, according to U.S. News.

As per an anonymous survey conducted by the Falconer with 182 student respondents, 61.5% of students did not know of the Kumeyaay and 95.1% did not know of the Luiseño. Additionally, 96.7% of these students responded that they had not learned about the Kumeyaay or Luiseño in any of their high school classes. 

“I don’t believe that a majority of TPHS students have a proficient understanding of Indigenous history [because of the] lack of emphasis in the curriculum,” Lucia Franke, TPHS U.S. History teacher said.

Brothers Trevin (12) and Gavin (10) Henry of the Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc (Kamloops) Indian Band from British Columbia, agreed.

“If you look at Torrey, we don’t even have a good, centered club for native students, so it does make it difficult for us to connect with our culture,” Trevin said. 

Currently, no SDUHSD high schools have Native American student clubs or associations listed on their websites. However, The Falconer’s survey found that 58.2% of TPHS  students believe that Native American curriculum at TPHS should be expanded and 29.5% believe that TPHS should implement a land acknowledgment honoring the Kumeyaay people whose unceded territory our school stands on. 

Dr. David Kamper, associate professor and Chair of American Indian Studies at SDSU and NASA faculty adviser, is a so-called “settler scholar,” the term for non-natives in his discipline. Kamper has a first-hand understanding of the importance of educating non-indigenous people about native history. 

“I communicate to my students that even though they might not see a lot of native people, this is because of a dominant culture in the U.S. that has tried to make them invisible,” Kamper said. “They aren’t. I see their expressions of vibrancy all throughout my work.”

In a time where a lack of Indigenous representation in education persists, the native community of San Diego hopes that people of non-Indigenous heritage will open their hearts and minds to native culture. 

“We welcome everyone, even if you are non-native,” Greybull said. “We have been pushed aside for so long. We want to teach you that we are not who the books say we are.”

Photos by Natalia Mochernak/Falconer

117 thoughts on “Indigenous Peoples of San Diego

  1. I have been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this web site. Thank you, I¦ll try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your website?

  2. Wow, incredible blog format! How lengthy have you ever been running a blog for? you made running a blog glance easy. The entire look of your website is fantastic, as well as the content material!

  3. I am not positive where you’re getting your info, however great topic. I must spend some time learning more or figuring out more. Thank you for excellent information I used to be looking for this info for my mission.

  4. Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your
    site? My blog is in the exact same area of interest as
    yours and my visitors would really benefit from a lot of the
    information you provide here. Please let me know if this alright with you.

    Appreciate it!

    Also visit my blog post :: provadent results

  5. What i do not realize is actually how you’re no longer actually much more well-preferred than you may be now.
    You’re so intelligent. You recognize therefore significantly in the case of this matter, made me for my part consider it from so many
    numerous angles. Its like women and men aren’t fascinated except it’s one thing
    to accomplish with Girl gaga! Your individual stuffs excellent.
    All the time care for it up!

    my blog :: the growth matrix pdf download

  6. Can I just say what a comfort to uncover someone that actually knows what they’re talking about over the internet.
    You definitely realize how to bring an issue to light and make it important.
    More and more people must read this and understand this side
    of the story. I can’t believe you’re not more popular because you most certainly possess the
    gift.

    Feel free to visit my web site – pro nerve 6

  7. fantastic submit, very informative. I wonder why the
    opposite experts of this sector do not notice this. You must continue your writing.
    I am sure, you’ve a great readers’ base already!

    my website – testoprime

  8. Right here is the right web site for everyone who
    hopes to understand this topic. You realize a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you
    (not that I actually will need to…HaHa). You definitely put a fresh spin on a topic that has been written about for many years.
    Great stuff, just great!

    Stop by my blog post: fitspresso get

  9. I believe what you typed was actually very reasonable. But, what about this?
    suppose you were to write a killer post title?
    I am not saying your information is not good., but suppose you added a title that makes people want more?
    I mean Indigenous Peoples of San Diego – The Falconer is kinda boring.
    You should glance at Yahoo’s front page and see how they create news headlines to grab people
    interested. You might try adding a video or a related pic or two to get people interested about what you’ve
    got to say. Just my opinion, it would bring your posts a little bit more interesting.

    My web blog Ultra K9 Pro Reviews

  10. Great blog here! Also your web site lots up very fast!
    What host are you the usage of? Can I am getting your associate link on your host?
    I desire my site loaded up as quickly as yours lol

    Also visit my webpage; boostaroid

  11. Hi there, I discovered your site by way of Google even as searching for a similar matter,
    your website came up, it seems to be good. I’ve bookmarked
    it in my google bookmarks.
    Hi there, just became alert to your weblog via Google, and located that
    it’s truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels.
    I will be grateful should you continue this in future.

    Numerous other folks can be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

    my web-site; billionaire brain wave program

  12. Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Many thanks, However I am having issues with your RSS.
    I don’t know why I cannot join it. Is there anyone else
    having similar RSS issues? Anyone who knows the solution will you
    kindly respond? Thanks!!

    Also visit my web blog: fitspresso order

  13. Excellent beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your site,
    how could i subscribe for a blog web site? The account aided me a acceptable
    deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear idea

    Also visit my web-site: tonic greens video

  14. You are so awesome! I don’t suppose I’ve truly
    read a single thing like this before. So great to discover somebody with unique thoughts on this subject matter.
    Really.. thanks for starting this up. This web site is something that is needed on the web,
    someone with a little originality!

    Look into my homepage: ULTRA K9 PRO

  15. I was curious if you ever considered changing the structure of your blog?
    Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you
    could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with
    it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only
    having 1 or 2 images. Maybe you could space it out better?

    Also visit my web blog pronerve 6

  16. Good day very cool website!! Man .. Excellent ..
    Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your website and take the feeds additionally?

    I am satisfied to search out a lot of useful info right
    here in the submit, we want develop more strategies on this regard, thanks
    for sharing. . . . . .

    My site :: dentavim kopen

  17. I like the valuable information you provide in your articles.

    I will bookmark your weblog and check again here regularly.
    I’m quite certain I’ll learn many new stuff right here!

    Best of luck for the next!

    Stop by my site :: tonic greens

  18. Hey there! Someone in my Facebook group shared this
    website with us so I came to take a look.
    I’m definitely loving the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
    Wonderful blog and great style and design.

    Check out my web site … genius wave reviews

  19. Hey just wanted to give you a quick heads up.
    The words in your content seem to be running off the screen in Firefox.

    I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but
    I thought I’d post to let you know. The design and style look great though!
    Hope you get the problem fixed soon. Thanks

    Stop by my website – try sight care fast

  20. Thanks for your personal marvelous posting! I definitely enjoyed reading it, you may
    be a great author.I will ensure that I bookmark your blog and will often come back sometime soon. I want to encourage you to continue your great
    writing, have a nice morning!

    my web site Neste site

  21. Heya fantastic website! Does running a blog like this require a great
    deal of work? I have very little understanding of computer programming however I was hoping to start my own blog soon.
    Anyway, should you have any ideas or tips for new blog owners please share.
    I know this is off topic nevertheless I simply needed to ask.
    Appreciate it!

    my site :: is testoprime legit

  22. Does your blog have a contact page? I’m having problems locating it but, I’d like to send you an email.
    I’ve got some suggestions for your blog you might be interested in hearing.
    Either way, great site and I look forward to seeing it develop over time.

    My website :: LipoZem Side Effects

  23. Howdy would you mind stating which blog platform you’re using?

    I’m going to start my own blog soon but I’m having a hard time making a decision between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
    The reason I ask is because your layout seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique.

    P.S My apologies for being off-topic but I had to ask!

    My page … the growth matrix youtube

  24. Greetings from California! I’m bored to tears at work so I decided to browse
    your blog on my iphone during lunch break.
    I enjoy the information you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home.
    I’m surprised at how quick your blog loaded on my phone ..
    I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, excellent blog!

    My web blog :: site tonic greens

  25. I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the page layout of your website?
    Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the
    way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or 2 pictures.

    Maybe you could space it out better?

    Here is my blog … the growth matrix website

  26. It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d certainly
    donate to this fantastic blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for bookmarking
    and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates
    and will share this website with my Facebook group. Chat soon!

    my blog post tonic greens

  27. I am not sure where you’re getting your info, but great topic.
    I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
    Thanks for excellent info I was looking for this information for my mission.

    Feel free to surf to my page :: provadent amazon

  28. Hello there! This article couldn’t be written any better!
    Looking at this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He continually kept preaching
    about this. I will forward this article to him. Fairly certain he’s going to have a great
    read. Many thanks for sharing!

    Take a look at my web site … does free sugar pro work

  29. Howdy! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you
    knew where I could find a captcha plugin for my comment form?
    I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble
    finding one? Thanks a lot!

    Feel free to surf to my page :: dentavim bbb reviews

  30. I have been surfing on-line more than 3 hours today, but I by no means found any interesting article
    like yours. It’s beautiful value sufficient for me.
    In my opinion, if all website owners and bloggers made
    just right content material as you probably did, the internet can be much
    more helpful than ever before.

    my web-site; what is the genius wave

  31. Yesterday, while I was at work, my sister stole my apple ipad and
    tested to see if it can survive a forty foot drop, just so
    she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now destroyed
    and she has 83 views. I know this is completely off topic but I had to share it
    with someone!

    my web site; does tonic greens work

  32. I am sure this post has touched all the internet people, its really really
    fastidious paragraph on building up new webpage.

    Feel free to visit my web page lottery

  33. Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thank you so much,
    However I am encountering troubles with your
    RSS. I don’t know the reason why I cannot subscribe to it.
    Is there anybody else getting identical RSS issues? Anyone that knows
    the solution will you kindly respond? Thanks!!

    Feel free to surf to my web site: tonic greens near me

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous post The Robotics Team
Next post Personal Perspective: Natalia Mochernak