The Rich History of the Kumeyaay Tribe

the first indigenous people of california

“Howka!” Glad you found us on coast walk.

Considered the first national indigenous people of California, the Kumeyaay is a well-known tribe who inhabit the northern and southern border of Baja California as well as Mexico.

The term Kumeyaay translates as "Those who face the water from a cliff", with the word meyaay meaning "steep" or "cliff". The history of the Kumeyaay culture is known to have started at the shores of “Kulaaxuuy” (La Jolla) translated as “Land of Holes” which refers to the sea caves below the trail that extend all the way to the desert. The area considered holy to the Kuyeyaay is known as Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve and the location of San Diego-Scripps Coastal Marine Conservation Area. 

Today the cliff view of the water can be experienced along La Jolla Shores Beach. The Kumeyaay or 'Iipay-Tiipay were formerly known as the Diegueños, which was the former Spanish name applied to the Misson Indians who resided along the San Diego River. In Mexico, they are referred to as the Kumiai.

The Kumeyaay language consists of three related groups; the ‘lipay, Tiipay, and Kamia and belongs to the Yuman-Cochimì language family. With its historical homelands divided by the San Diego River, the ‘lipay lived to the north, from Escondido to Lake Henshaw, while the Tipay lived to the south, in lands such as the Laguna Mountains, Ensenada, and Tecate. The Kamia resided to the east within Mexicali, bordering the Salton Sea.

In collaboration with local tribe representatives Dr. Stanley Rodriguez, Kumeyaay, John Bear Contreras, Kumeyaay, and Kilma Latin, Kupa who kindly guided the Friends of Coast Walk to create this dedication plaque to the first nation people who inhabited this area over 9,000 years ago.

The purpose of this dedication is to acknowledge the Kumeyaay and help educate visitors about the trail about the rich history of the area by honoring the first inhabitants of Kulaaxuuy. The dedication written in original Kumeyaay language and translated as follows:

HEYAAY IIPAY NYAMAT PIYII MAT KULAHUII NYAWAIP KANAP IIKUU NYAMAT KIYIM PIIYII HASIL EWIK MAT HELPAY NYAPUM MATHAI ENYAK NYAPUMMAAT SAAI CINY NYAMAT HAAWKA PASHOW NYAPUM KAIYOU lIPAY NYAMAT MATER, NIIPIL NYAPUM NYAMIKE

TRANSLATION

Since time in memoriam the Kumeyaay people have walked these shores here at "Kulaaxuuy" (La Jolla). The creation story of the Kumeyaay begins with the shores of "Kulaaxuuy" beach and continues to the desert.
Our women carry our "Howuka" for all generations both contemporary and for the future.

 To achieve this overdue acknowledgement of the Kumeyaay, FOCWT with help from La Jolla High School Students and brothers Nick & Nate Thomson, with guidance from their parents Kalani & Dr. Katherine Thomson along with Sheryl Scarano and Ann Dynes they collectively raised the needed funds for this project, complete with a cultural history QR link using augmented reality (AR) created by Emmy Award winning Our Worlds, Inc.

The Friends of Coast Walk are deeply grateful for the opportunity to make this project come to fruition for all who visit.