SLR Band
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Indigenous California

'Íswut of San Luis Rey
Luiseño version

Indigenous San Diego County
Text by Kristie Orosco
Images by David Fleischman, Deborah Small, Jessica Walker, and Josh Walker

The natural surroundings dictate many aspects of traditional life for Indigenous Californians. The natural world is dynamic; therefore, traditional life needs to provide flexibility if it is to sustain itself through changes.

Just as a river changes course and plants change through seasons, so too does the social structure. There is a time for everything according to season, plant, and animal life.

The Indigenous people who occupy what is now known as San Diego County followed a complex annual routine and made decisions for the group based on how that routine would fit into that year’s allotment of rain, food harvest, and availability of game.

According to the stories, these routines were set up centuries ago to establish an orderly process for the practice of harvesting and hunting. Bands of Indians harvested in a general area for each resource, and within that general area, individual clans had particular areas that were their primary harvesting areas. If an individual clan’s area did not produce enough for that clan, other clans within the band were generous with their harvest.

There has never been an account of people starving.

The stories tell of misfortune for people or clans that were not generous. With this social system, people cared for their areas in a sustainable manner. Each clan hasa responsibility to future generations to keep their areas in a positive balance so it will be plentiful for the future.

There are many stories and songs that are passed down from centuries ago that teach us how to do this. All plants hold value and were cared for so as to increase their valuable properties.

Offerings, ceremonies, stories, and songs all signify the importance of the plant world.