Juntas de Nejí
The Kumiai community of Juntas de Nejí is the northernmost of the indigenous communities of Baja California, located within the municipality of Tecate. Nejí is divided geographically into two separate polygons, both of which lie relatively close to the international border and within the Tijuana River Watershed and have a combined total of 11,590 hectares. The clans of Nejí have historically shared close familial and linguistic ties with the Kumeyaay (or Tipai) groups of southern San Diego County such as Campo and Jamul. Bordering on the western polygon of Nejí is the traditional Kumiai settlement of Peña Blanca, an unofficial neighboring settlement to Nejí that is unrecognized by the Mexican government. Neji's mountainous terrain includes wide areas of high chaparral, oak woodlands, granitic outcroppings, and in some areas pines, Tecate cypress and other flora indicative of the transition to the higher altitudes of the adjacent sierra. Water sources are scarce, usually consisting of small springs or shallow wells; these are used for both drinking water and limited gravity-fed irrigation.
Most of the inhabitants of Nejí have moved to Tecate, Valle de las Palmas, El Testerazo, El Hongo or the larger urban areas to seek employment, although many of them maintain contact with their community and express interest in returning to live "if there was work". The few remaining inhabitants eke out a living through subsistence agriculture, cattle ranching, and other seasonal labor in neighboring mestizo communities. Erosion is perhaps the most severe environmental problem for Nejí especially in the eastern polygon where large scale grazing by neighboring ranches has caused serious soil and foliage depletion within the watershed.
Water quality and quantity also represent serious challenges, since none of the existing settlements has any kind of water system more sophisticated than hand dug water collection basins, a few with cemented retaining walls and none with effective lids, seals or other protection. Residents have been advised that they should boil or otherwise treat their water, but usually drink the water untreated "because we're used to it." All of the settlements in the community are located far from the highway, accessible only by dirt roads in poor condition. Acorns are one of the most important natural resources utilized in the area of Nejí, and residents also depend on other wild foods and medicinal plants as well as occasional hunting as part of a diversified survival strategy.
Land tenancy is a serious issue for Nejí with its limited population base and even more so for Peña Blanca, due to the lack of land tenancy documents. Both communities are undergoing invasion by squatters and encroachment by neighboring ejidos. One informant of Peña Blanca commented that members of a neighboring ejido interested in claiming the land for their own use have tried to destroy archaeological sites and any other cultural resources that might strengthen the Kumiai families' right to their land. One of the most valuable resources for Nejí is the natural beauty of the landscape and its sense of remoteness, even though it is actually the closest community to the metropolitan areas of Tijuana and San Diego.