Coordinates: 33°21′34″N117°02′49″W / 33.35944°N 117.04694°W
The Pala Indian Reservation is located in the middle San Luis Rey River Valley in northern San Diego County, California, east of the community of Fallbrook, and has been assigned feature ID 272502.[clarification needed]
Historic variant names used to describe the area include Mission Indian Reservation and Mission Indian Reserve.
The expansion of the Sycuan casino outside of San Diego is like coming home for the tribe. Voice of the Customer. By Brian Wyman. A survey of casino amenities of the people who matter, consumers. By William Sokolic. The importance of comfortable and attractive casino chairs.
Its members, the federally recognized tribe of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, are descended from both Cupeño and Luiseño peoples, who have shared territory since 1901. A total of five other federally recognized tribes of Luiseño are located in southern California.
The reservation has a land area of 52.163 km² (20.140 sq mi) and reported an official resident population of 1,573 persons in the 2000 census, about 44 percent of whom were of solely Native American heritage. Robert H. Smith is the Tribal Chairman.
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 1,573 reservation population (2000 US Census) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| United States (California) | |
| Languages | |
| English, Luiseño, Cupeño | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Cupeño people, Luiseño people[1] |
Politics[edit]
The Pala Band of Mission Indians is governed by a six-member Executive Committee. Committee members elected by the General Counsel, who is composed of voters of 18 and up. Every two years in November an election is held. The tribal committee is made up of a tribal chairman, vice chairman, secretary, treasurer, and two council members. The tribe follows a constitution created in 1994, which was approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1997.[2]
Reservation[edit]
The reservation occupies parts of four 7.5 minute topographic maps: Boucher Hill, Pala, Pechanga, and Vail Lake, California. The area consists of an area in and around Pala, California. The enrolled tribal members descend from two Indian groups: a band of the Luiseño tribe, and the Cupeño Indians, who were historically one of the smallest tribes in California. Their name for themselves was Kuupangaxwichem.The reservation also hosts a radio station, Pala Rez Radio 91.3 FM.
History / Culture[edit]
During the mission period of Spanish colonial times, Pala was the site of San Antonio de Pala Asistencia, an asistencia – an arm of the Catholic Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, downstream toward the coast. The grounds of the former asistencia include a historic cemetery.
The tribe federally recognized. The Cupeño people were evicted in 1901 from their ancestral homeland, called Kupa, on what is now called Warner's Ranch east of Pala. This event is referred to by the tribe as the 'Cupeño Trail of Tears.' The Cupeño were removed to a tract of land in the Pala Valley adjacent to the Pala Luiseño reservation that already existed there in May 1903. That tract of land was purchased pursuant to the express direction of Congress for 'such Mission Indians heretofore residing or belonging to the Rancho San Jose del Valle, or Warners Ranch, in San Diego County, California, and such other Mission Indians as may not be provided with suitable lands elsewhere, as the Secretary of the Interior may see fit to locate thereon.'[3] The tract of land had no form of infrastructure, so the Cupeño had to sleep in the open fields. In addition, their Chinigchinich religious ties to their previous land holdings were denied to them, which hindered their spirituality. They have not been able to regain their previous homeland, Kupa.[4]
Gaming and economic development[edit]
Traditionally a modest and sometimes poor tribe, since the late 20th century, the Pala Band has developed a large, successful casino and resort hotel: Pala Casino Resort and Spa. The tribe uses proceeds from the gaming and hospitality enterprises to fund social services and education for members, and infrastructure improvements to the reservation. The Pala branch also cultivates a 90-acre avocado grove on the southern part of the reservation. The grove provides jobs to over 40 individuals.[5]
Outcomes of the Gaming Profits
- $1.5 million home loan program
- $300,000 scholarship fund for higher education
- Additional land for the Tribal cemetery
- Firefighter and paramedic service
- 24-hour on-site ambulance
- 24/7/365 non commercial FM station KPRI, known as 'Rez Radio 91.3'[6]
Environmental Department[edit]
The department monitors the pollution and cleanliness of the air, water, and land specific to the Pala reservation. The U.S. provided the reservation with a grant in 1999 that enabled the tribe to observe the pollution levels of the environment. The grant contributes to the technology for the department, personnel training, and other necessities needed to manage the department. Some of the tasks that the department fulfills are commuting the Air Quality Index for the region, which describes the pollutants in the air, along with solutions and methods to combat the issue. Another aspect that the department addresses is to ensure that the water meets the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards in addition to the conservation of water in the reservation. In addition to environment conservation, they also work to preserve and maintain historical and cultural sites.[7]
Other Luiseño bands[edit]
Another major federally recognized tribe of related people, the Pauma Band of Luiseno Mission Indians resides to the southeast in the area traversed by State Route 76. A total of five other federally recognized tribes of Luiseño are located in southern California.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Pritzker 131
- ^'Tribal Council — Pala Band of Mission Indians'. www.palatribe.com. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
- ^32 Stat. 257 (1902)
- ^'History and Culture — Pala Band of Mission Indians'. www.palatribe.com. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
- ^'Economy — Pala Band of Mission Indians'. www.palatribe.com. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
- ^'Tribal Council — Pala Band of Mission Indians'. www.palatribe.com. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
- ^'Culture – Pala Environmental Department'. ped.palatribe.com. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
- Pala Reservation, California United States Census Bureau
- Bean, Lowell J. and Shipek, Florence C. (1978) 'Luiseño,' in 'California,' vol. 8, ed. Robert Heizer, Handbook of North American Indians (Wash., D. C.: Smithsonian Institution): 550–563.
- Bean, L. J. and Smith, Charles R., 'Cupeño,' Ibid, pp. 588–591.
- Hyer, Jose R., 2001. 'We Are Not Savages': Native Americans in Southern California and the Pala Reservation, 1840–1920 (E. Lansing: Michigan State University Press).
- Karr, Steven M., 2000. 'Water We Believed Could Never Belong to Anyone: the San Luis Rey River and the Pala Indians of Southern California,' American Indian Quarerly, 24(3): 381
External links[edit]
- Pala Band, Tribal government home page
- Howser, Huell (December 8, 2000). 'California Missions (108)'. California Missions. Chapman University Huell Howser Archive.
Any suggestions as to nice casinos or good tours of the city or waterfront?
Coronado Island is worth a visit
Little Italy has great restaurants
Old Town has good Mexican restaurants
The Padres suck but the stadium is worth a visit for the experience
Pacific Beach is good for bars and people watching on the beach with surfers and a block away for the bar crowd.
Gaslight district is a tourist trap.
Have fun V.
Administrator
Heading there this weekend.
Any suggestions as to nice casinos or good tours of the city or waterfront?
PM RS and ask him. He knows a lot about the area.
PM RS and ask him. He knows a lot about the area.
I think you mean San Francisco (-;I think you mean San Francisco (-;
Hey, I’m a well traveled man, what can I say?
There are a few casinos near the area, but nothing really “in” San Diego. Up north there’s Harrahs of Southern California in Valley Center — lots of meth in the area, so if you want that, there you go. Valley view also exists right near Harrahs, well it’s close by. Pauma is a little north of Harrahs, but not worth stopping by.
Down south is Barona, Pala, and Viejas. I think there’s some casino in Jamul, but idk much else about it. All the casinos I’ve listed are Vegas-like casinos where they’re big and have lots of slots, VP, and table games. Last I heard, Barona has the most double deck BJ games of any casino in the world, although the mins are at least $25 and they are basically always crowded.
There’s a San Diego wild animal park and/or zoo, Legoland, Sea World, and it seems like something else but I don’t remember off hand.
Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, etc., and all that crap downtown is gonna be full of college kids partying it up. La Jolla Cove is also nice, but it’s a cove, so mostly stuff like snorkeling and whatnot and no waves for surfing. Up north there are several great beaches, but those are going to be filled with high school kids and families. Some have volleyball courts, just bring a volleyball or join in on someone else’s game (volleyball court usage is free, darn liberals in California!!).
There’s also Del Mar, where the horse racing track is. It’s a fair during the summer and it’s actually super legit. Idk if the fair is open yet, but I know the last day is 4’th of July and they have fireworks which is cool.
Lots of great restaurants and bars, especially if you’re into IPA (beer).
Also check out some of the “local” grocery stores. They’re a total hoot. There are stores that are like 100% cruelty-free meat, environmentally-conscious fruits & vegetables, and other stuff like that. Sort of like a Whole Foods on steroids.
If you have time and you bring your passport, something I used to do with my family a few times a year, is drive down to Tijuana, MX for some tacos.
Casino Outside Of San Diego Airport
Oh yeah, good Mexican food in SD. At least better than most other places.
Restaurants I recommend:
Rudy’s
Nacho Libre
Cotixan (that seems to be an SD only thing?)
The Ol’ Trieste
Red Tracton’s
In N’ Out, obviously (if you haven’t been)
Some stuff might be dated a bit since I haven’t really been there and immersed in the culture for a while. It’s amazing how many people are out biking, running, walking their dog, etc. compared to LV and even many other cities I’ve been to.
It's a shame because if I could trust them id probably be living in san diego right now and playing them every day. But when you have a casino that answers to itself with no real enforcement in place idk how you can put your hard earned dollars on the felt. God knows whats in that shoe. Maybe I should just go play their double deck since they do show you the cards, but then id have to worry about 'beastmode' unregulated indian shufflers.
If the Padres are in town, definitely check out Petco Park. Its a great stadium, and yeah they do suck, but theres great foodplaces and so many beer options. All their microbreweries sell in the park.
Hey, I’m a well traveled man, what can I say?
There are a few casinos near the area, but nothing really “in” San Diego. Up north there’s Harrahs of Southern California in Valley Center — lots of meth in the area, so if you want that, there you go. Valley view also exists right near Harrahs, well it’s close by. Pauma is a little north of Harrahs, but not worth stopping by.
Down south is Barona, Pala, and Viejas. I think there’s some casino in Jamul, but idk much else about it. All the casinos I’ve listed are Vegas-like casinos where they’re big and have lots of slots, VP, and table games. Last I heard, Barona has the most double deck BJ games of any casino in the world, although the mins are at least $25 and they are basically always crowded.
There’s a San Diego wild animal park and/or zoo, Legoland, Sea World, and it seems like something else but I don’t remember off hand.
Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, etc., and all that crap downtown is gonna be full of college kids partying it up. La Jolla Cove is also nice, but it’s a cove, so mostly stuff like snorkeling and whatnot and no waves for surfing. Up north there are several great beaches, but those are going to be filled with high school kids and families. Some have volleyball courts, just bring a volleyball or join in on someone else’s game (volleyball court usage is free, darn liberals in California!!).
There’s also Del Mar, where the horse racing track is. It’s a fair during the summer and it’s actually super legit. Idk if the fair is open yet, but I know the last day is 4’th of July and they have fireworks which is cool.
Lots of great restaurants and bars, especially if you’re into IPA (beer).
Also check out some of the “local” grocery stores. They’re a total hoot. There are stores that are like 100% cruelty-free meat, environmentally-conscious fruits & vegetables, and other stuff like that. Sort of like a Whole Foods on steroids.
If you have time and you bring your passport, something I used to do with my family a few times a year, is drive down to Tijuana, MX for some tacos.
Oh yeah, good Mexican food in SD. At least better than most other places.
Restaurants I recommend:
Rudy’s
Nacho Libre
Cotixan (that seems to be an SD only thing?)
The Ol’ Trieste
Red Tracton’s
In N’ Out, obviously (if you haven’t been)
Some stuff might be dated a bit since I haven’t really been there and immersed in the culture for a while. It’s amazing how many people are out biking, running, walking their dog, etc. compared to LV and even many other cities I’ve been to.
It appears you left out Sycuan. I didn't notice it mentioned in your post. Worth a look imo.
When I was a 20-30 year old, all those places you mentioned had a card room or two. Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, even La Jolla had a big game at the Neptune Club. There were literally 50-60 card rooms in the area, it was paradise. Back then you could rent a 1-bedroom for like $300 or so. I would hop over the border and catch a cab to Agua Caliente Race Track. If you are familiar with that dump, it may surprise one to know that there was once first class racing there. Of course, there was dog racing, and a Jai Alai fronton too. All parimutuel wagering. I would not go to TJ now if you paid me. Too scary. (and I mean the police, not even talking about the bad guys yet)
- Page 1 of 3
Comments are closed.