Kumeyaay Bands

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The four indigenous tribes which are native to the County of San Diego in Southern California include the Cahilla, Cupeno, Luiseno, and the Kumeyaay tribes. The Kumeyaay consist of two related groups, the Ipai and Tipai.The two coastal groups’ traditional homelands were approximately separated by the San Diego River: the northern Ipai (extending from Escondido to Lake Henshaw) and the southern Tipai (including the Laguna Mountains, Ensenada, and Tecate).

At the time of European contact, the Kumeyaay people had several autonomous bands with 30 patrilineal clans. Under the Spanish Mission system, bands living near Mission San Diego de Alcalá were called Diegueños.

Today, the 13 US bands of the Kumeyaay tribe, which are federally recognized tribes, include:

There are also five bands of Kumeyaay people in Mexico.

They live in five communities in Baja California, including:

  • Juntas de Neji
  • La Huerta
  • San Antonio Necua
  • Santa Catarina
  • San José de la Zorra