Page 10 - July 2002 • Southern California Gaming Guide

THE SAN DIEGO GAMING GUIDE
The San Pasqual Band of Indians: A Cultural History
Tucked away in the beautiful coastal valleys of North San Diego County, the San Pasqual Band of Indians occupies a rich and colorful place in Native American history. The tribe is a part of the Kumeyaay Nation, which dates all the way back to 12000 b.c. and beyond. The San Pasqual tribe is known as the “Iipaai” which means “The People” in our native
language. We are also called the “Coyote” Clan.
The Kumeyaay Nation has been in San Diego County for at least 10,000 years, and at one time controlled most of the land that makes up present day San Diego County, plus a substantial portion of Northern Mexico.
For years the San Pasqual tribe worked the fer- tile land of the San Pasqual Valley. When gold was discovered in the mountains near Ramona in 1880, our ancestors were evicted from their homeland. In 1883 the tribal leaders tried to regain their rights to the land, but their efforts were ignored, until 1890, when President Grant signed an execu- tive order setting and reserving the land of our people. However, due to an outcry from local citizens who had claimed the land as their own, President Grant gave in to pressure and revoked his executive order, giving the land to
the settlers.
In 1892 Congress mandated an investiga-
tion, which resulted in the Smiley Commis- sion Report. In this report, most of our land was of cially taken away from us and given to the settlers.
sought to do away with the reservation, but through efforts of the tribal elders, the descendants of the original tribe were reorganized to claim the land.
Today, the San Pasqual Band’s reservation encom- passes 1379 acres of land in Valley Center, near Lake Wolhford, Woods Valley, and Paradise Creek. The
tribe has approximately 430 members, with 35% living on the reservation.
The tribe has diligently pursued economic devel- opment since the 1980’s. Due to lack of nancial resources, attempts never got off the ground. In 1993 we began pursuing gaming as a means to an end, and in 1999 we signed the California Gaming Compact.
Known as the locals’ favorite casino, the payouts and promotional giveaways at Valley View Casino are generous, attracting players from all over San Diego, Orange, and Riverside counties. In fact, the
casino pays out several million dollars in jack- pots every month. Recently, one lucky player hit a $1,300,000 jackpot. Promotional give- aways often include new cars, trucks, vacation trips, and large amounts of cash. Valley View’s VIP Player’s Club is extremely generous with its members, giving more cash back per dollar played than any other casino in San Diego County. Tribal members concur that as Valley View grows and expands, they will work to keep the fun and friendly atmosphere that make it the casino where area locals bring their friends.
With Valley View Casino comes new hope for prosperity for the San Pasqual tribe. Tribal members take a lot of pride in making the casino successful. Likewise, many of the employees come from the tribe. This opportunity for employment has given tribal members self-esteem, which had long been
On July 1, 1910 Congress set aside 1,379.59 acres for the San Pasqual Band of Indians. Unfortunately, the surveyor made an error
in the documentation and the reservation land was mistakenly located one township to
the north, which is now called Valley Center. Most of the tribal people were unaware that they even had a reservation as some 20 years
had passed, leaving tribal members to survive
by relocating where they had extended family, or where they could nd work.
From 1910 to 1930 our ancestors managed to maintain a social kinship and ritual ties; older members communicated suf ciently to identify all of their tribal people. In 1954, the Termination Act
An eagle-eye view of the San Pasqual Indian Reservation in San Diego
In April of 2001, we entered a new era with the opening of Valley View Casino, which houses over
750 slot machines, a dozen table games, and a Vegas- style, all-you-can-eat buffet. Plans for expansion that would make it a major destination are currently being studied.
missing. Tribal programs are now in place to teach our cultural traditions to our children. At the same time, there is a growing cooperation between the tribe and the general citizenry of Valley Center as we work together to create a mutual understanding and develop programs that bene t all.
Page 10 July 2002
Native American Hosts: The San Pasqual Band of Indians