Page 8 - April 2002 • Southern California Gaming Guide

SAN DIEGO GAMING GUIDE
The Struggles and Triumphs of the Campo Kumeyaay Band
by Mike Connolly
The Kumeyaay Nation once encompassed the lands from northern San Diego County to the dunes of the Imperial Valley and south beyond Ensenada, Mexico. The Kumeyaay were orga- nized along clan lines called Sh’mulq. The clans maintained complex familial, spiritual and militaristic alliances with each other. When threatened by an outside adversary the clans would come together under a Kwachut G’tay to meet the threat.
The Kumeyaay were the most resistant of all the California tribes to the conversions efforts of the Spanish priests. Following the founding of the Mission in San Diego in 1769, it was over a year before the Mission had its rst converts. Spanish weaponry and armor made the soldiers virtually invincible to the wood and stone weapons of the Kumeyaay. Nevertheless, the Kumeyaay launched repeated attacks on the Spanish throughout their 52 year occupation. The most famous of these was the attack and destruction of the San Diego Mission in 1775. Because of this resistance the Spanish seldom controlled more than a 30 mile strip of the coast.
In 1821, following the successful Mexican revolution, California became part of Mexico. The Mexican government sought to eliminate the Span- ish system centered on the Missions and Pueblos. Lands were carved up for distribution as Ranchos and Indians were either evicted or forced to work as laborers. This resulted in a massive uprising of Kumeyaay throughout their territory. Armed with modern weaponry and horses, Kumeyaay warriors launched recurring raids on the Mexican Ranchos. By 1842, the Ranchos had been abandoned and the warriors were attacking the last stronghold, the
city of San Diego. The city was spared destruction by the entry of another faction, the United States of America.
The Treaty of Santa Ysabel
In 1846, General Kearney led his forces to San Diego. Although offered allegiance by Kumeyaay in Santa Ysabel, Kearney only asked that the Kumeyaay stay out of the battle. He promised fairness for the Indi- ans under the United States. The Mexican-American War ended in 1848 and the border was drawn through the heart of Kumeyaay lands. In 1852, the Kumeyaay Kwa-pai met in Santa Ysabel and negotiated a treaty with the United States. This treaty was the mechanism whereby the Kumeyaay people acknowledged their status as a nation within a nation.
Unfortunately, the Treaty of Santa Ysabel was ille- gally and unethically voted down and placed under seal by the Senate of the United States. State spon- sored militias then sought to enslave or exterminate all Indians in California. The population of Indians in California dropped by 90% from 1850 to 1860. Because of the nearby Mexican border and the lack of large gold strikes to lure more Americans, the Kumeyaay fared somewhat better than tribes further
north. This did not prevent the break up of the Kumeyaay territories into fragmented parcels, however.
In 1875, the rst of these parcels began to be converted to Reservation trust land. Fur- ther additions were taken into trust over the next 25 years including the rst portion of the Campo Indian Reservation in 1893. The Campo Valley was known as Meelqsh G’tay (or Big Open Meadow) and was known by the local non-Indians as Milguatay. Eventu- ally, it was translated into the Spanish word for eld or country.
In 1904, the seal of secrecy was removed from the Treaty of Santa Ysabel. An organi- zation called the Mission Indian Federation was formed to promote the establishment of rights for Indian people in southern California. The Federation challenged the authority of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and pushed for full citizenship rights for Indian people. In 1927, Federation support- ers clashed with Bureau police resulting in shootings and deaths on the Campo Indian Reservation.
The Struggles Continue
In the 1950’s the United States began a widespread program to terminate Indian tribes. Many tribes in California were legislated out of existence. The Fed- eration rallied for one last ght and helped to defeat termination legislation targeting southern California tribes. Public Law 280 was also passed during this time, allowing California law enforcement author- ity on tribal lands. County agencies, linked with the school districts, sought to remove Indian children from their homes and adopt them out. Many parents had no knowledge of their legal rights and many did not even speak English. Children would go to school and never return. The County excused their actions by pointing to the poverty and substandard housing on the Reser- vation as justi cation for removing the children.
Self Determination at Last
In 1975 the Indian Self Determination Act was passed by the United States. This legislation gave more authority to the Tribes to determine their own pri- orities and manage their affairs. In 1978, the Campo people designated the area near the Crestwood free- way off-ramp as an area for economic development.
In the 1980’s several proposals for development at the freeway site were considered and dropped either for feasibility reasons or for lack of nancing. In the 1990’s, the impasse with the State regarding gaming began to show signs of breaking. The Campo people decided to begin the process of developing a casino. By 2000, nancial backers were secured and the ini- tial working agreements were approved by Campo. In 2001 the facility was constructed and opening day occurred on August 15, 2001
The Campo Kumeyaay must still live with the effects of long time poverty, disrupted families, edu- cational challenges and health impacts. The Campo people have shown their resilience over the ages, and their willingness to rise to the challenges before them. With the Golden Acorn Casino as one critical element, the Campo people will move ahead toward a brighter future for themselves and their children.
Michael Connolly is a Campo Band tribal historian.
Photo courtesy of San Diego Historical Society, Photograph Collection
Page 8 April 2002
Native American Hosts: The Campo Band of the Kumeyaay Nation