We the people of white sage and eagle!

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Language: Hokan
Lifeways: Trading, hunting and gathering
Description: Small in size, about 5'4" with straight black hair and dark brown eyes

Many names have been given to the Native Californians living in the San Diego Mission area. The Missionaries name was "Diegueño", since the Missionaries were the only ones with written historical records, this is the name most often used. The Native Californians called themselves the Kumeyaay, or, Tipai (Tee pay) and Ipai (Ee pay), the people of white sage and eagle.

These two tribes spoke the same language, were similiar in appearance, and had the custom of using only family names not individual names. Both tribes had territorial boundaries, but, wandered from place to place looking for food. Neither tribe banded together, instead they divided into small tribelets numbering from 3 to 200 people, each tribelet had a name.

Find out more about our stories and our customes:
Our LAND
Our HOMES
Our EVERYDAY LIFE
Our oral history of MISSION TIMES



The LAND the Tipai/Ipai tribelets occupied were from San Diego, to Baja California and east almost to the Arizona border. The land went from sea-level on the coast to 6,500-feet-high mountain peaks and then down below sea-level in the desert. With the different climates within their territory came different foods and by moving with the seasons they enjoyed the variety. From the coast, fish and clams to the piñon pine and acorns found on the lower mountain slopes. Each tribelet did have a "home" base, an area of land either inland or along the coast where they spent the majority of their time. Each group knew the boundaries, they were marked by rocks, mountains, rivers and the like.

Our HOMES,
and villages (more like campsites) were chosen for location: water, protection from weather, and for safety from possible attacks. Land used for a home had to be where no other house had been. There was a great fear of sickness being caused by the ghosts of those who had lived there earlier.

The homes varied with the season and location; a summer home near the coast, was little more than a large rock or cave to provide protection from the wind. The winter homes located below the mountains in the warmer valleys, were built with a framework of bending poles, tied together in the center, and at the top forning a dome-shape. Bundles of dirt and grass were laid on top of the framework to make walls. The homes were built in clusters, but not too close together.

In the center of each village was a ceremonial building owned by everyone. Usually built on a flat piece of ground, the ceremonial buildings were used for dances, rituals and fiestas. The Tipai villages did not have a sweathouse, like those found in the villages of the Northern California Natives.


EVERDAY LIFE: Each tribelet had a chief, or, there was a chief for all the tribelets in an area. The chief was in charge of regilious ceremonies, advice and punishment. The chief appointed "hunt masters" and "dance leaders" (both honored positions within the tribelet). He also presided over the marriages arranged by parents.

When a child was born, relatives brought gifts of bedding, food, pots and basketsto the new parents (twins were believed to be gifted with supernatural spirits). It was the grandparents' had an active role in raising the children to be good adults. Toys were usually small copies of grown-ups' tools so they would learn how to hunt or cook at an early age.

When girls became teenagers, they had their chins tattooed at a celebration. In Imperial Valley, when the boys became teenagers, they had their noses pierced at a ceremony. As these children entered adulthood they were allowed to trade,with other neighboring tribes. Make pottery and baskets with the other adults in their triblett. Hunting and fishishing were the main occupations of the men. And, everyone participated in religious ceremonies and customs. The Tipai/Ipai along with all other natives were very religious and these religious beliefs were part of their everyday life.

This was their way of life went on for thousands of years, from one generation to the next. The Tipai/Ipaiwere paid a handful of visits by Europeans prior to the Spanish invasion of 1769. Native California country at that time consisted of the entire state. In fact all the land west of the Mississippi river was mapped as mysterious and unknown land.

MISSION TIMES:
Then in 1769 groups of curious Kumeyaays' watched as men, some robed, and others covered with thick leather march slowly into the San Diego Bay area. Little did they know at the time the effects these visitors would have of their future way of life.

This is our story:

For thousands of years we lived as our forefathers had, at peace with the heavens and earth. Our life revolved around the seasons and gathering of food, we were careful to take only what was needed. Because of the warm year-round weather, we found little need for clothing or fancy homes.

If we could not obtain what we needed we would trade with our neighbors. Beside business, this was a great time to socialize. It was at one of these tradings that we first heard of "unknown" diseases taking many lives in distant villages. These stories continued for many, many years.

You can imagin how frightened we were when we saw strange men in heavy clothing comming near our village carring their sick. We watched as many of the ill strangers died, we were sure that as soon as the others were well enough they would all continue their travels as others had before them.

This was not to be. They built houses and began planting, it was apparent that these strangers were not moving on anytime soon. We tried to keep our distance and live our lives as we always had but the Padres along with a soldier or two would come to the village almost daily now. A few of the young befriended them, curious they were. It was autum, time to leave for the gathering of berries. Yet these strangers remained. They were trespassing! They were within our boundaries! We had no choice but to attack.

Much to our suprise these strangers had magical weapons that made a loud noise with much smoke. These weapons killed and injured many of our people. Perhaps these strangers with their supernatural weapons had supernatural healing powers too. At the urging of the young ones we did return for help to heal those who were injured.

Finally, we packed up and left. At every trading stop along the way, we told other villages of the arrival of these ill strangers, the weapons they used and the fancy clothing they wore. Little did we know that we were also trading that "unknown" disease at every stop. Many of our people did not complete that autum journey.

When the some of the strangers moved up river and befriended a neighboring tribe we had no idea that our way of life was forever in danger. The strangers promised food, clothing, and the word of God in return for assistance in building and planting. When it was time for their tribe to travel, permission was denied.

To become a "Mission Indian" meant giving up your freedom to wander, worship and pratice the ways of tribal ancestors. It also meant eating the foods they liked, but many times these foods made us sick. Some were allowed to return home in the evening, unlike some of our brothers to the North. They violently fought against being a part of mission life. The mission was set aflame and a priest was killed in the attack. Those responsible for the attack were hunted down by the soldiers.

We were considered "less than human" in the eyes of the Padres and soldies: slavery, torture, overwork, and murder were acceptable. To escape would mean disfigurement, humiliation, torture, or death. It was easier to survive at the missions, despite the terrible treatment. When the mission was rebuilt, it included the surrounding high walls like those of other missions. These walls were built not to keep others out but to keep our brothers in.