Kumeyaay Tribe Facts
Other names
Tipai, Ipai, Diegueño, Luiseño
Home region
San Diego County, northern Baja California
Mission affiliations
San Diego de Alcalá, San Luis Rey de Francia
Historical Background
Kumeyaay (Spanish pronunciation: Kamia) is a name given to two closely-related groups, the Tipai and the Ipai, whose ancestral territory encompasses much of the far southwest of California.
Interesting Facts
The Kumeyaay people stretch across the international border between the U.S. and Mexico. They were earlier identified as “Diegueño” owing to their affiliation with mission San Diego de Alcalá.
The Kumeyaay Today
Today, the Kumeyaay people live on the following reservations in Southern California: Barona, Campo, Capitan Grande, Ewiiaappaayp (Cuyapaipe), Inaja-Cosmit, Jamul, La Posta, Manzanita, Mesa Grande, San Pasqual, Santa Ysabel, Sycuan and Viejas. In Baja California, at La Huerta, Neji, San Antonio Neidus, and San José La Zozza.
For more detailed information about the Kumeyaay, read Native Americans of Southern California: The Kumeyaay
Resources for teachers
Kumeyaay Tribe Facts with Comprehension Questions (Teachers Pay Teachers). Includes both color and b/w versions, as well as a question sheet to guide students in their reading. An excellent way to prepare students for their 3rd grade California Native American project and/or their 4th grade Mission project.
Damian Bacich
Damian Bacich, Ph.D., is a professor, translator, and historical researcher specializing in early California and the Spanish borderlands. His work focuses on exploration, missions, and primary-source history of the American West. Learn more about Damian here.
