Viejas Band of Indians
How The Viejas Came To Be
Capitan Grande is the name of the canyon through which the San Diego River once ran, about 35 miles east of San Diego. With abundant water, Indians living there had sustained themselves through farming.
In 1875, a Presidential Executive Order withdrew lands from the federal domain, setting aside a number of small reservations, including the Capitan Grande Reservation from which the Viejas Band descended.
Capitan Grande, which was patented in 1891, included portions of ancestral land of the Los Coñejos Band. Other Indians from Mission San Diego were given permission in 1853 to locate on Capitan Grande by the federal Indian Agent at the time, and over the years, a few other Indians were placed there as well.
As the non-Indian population grew, demand for water increased. The City of San Diego built Lake Cuyamaca, laying its flume through the Capitan Grande Reservation and taking most of the San Diego River water originally used by the Kumeyaay, leaving them only a small share from the city's flume, resulting in crop losses on Indian farms. The city later decided to dam the river and take all of the water by creating El Capitan Reservoir. Though the Kumeyaay protested, Congress--at the wishes of land speculators and unknown to the Indians--granted the city permission to purchase the heart of the Capitan Grande Reservation upon which the Kumeyaay had built their homes. From the proceeds of this forced "sale" of lands, some members of the valley's inhabitants, the Coapan Band, or Capitan Grande, bought Barona Valley, and are now known as the Barona Band of Mission Indians.
Another twenty-eight families, including members of the Los Coñejos Band, purchased the Viejas Valley land, once a ranch owned by Baron Long, and incorporated the name Viejas. A few other families bought private individual sites with their compensation. After the move, the Viejas and Barona were denied their water rights, and each valley became solely dependent on meager supplies of rainfall and ground water.
Today, membership in the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay is determined by direct descent from the families forced from Capitan Grande who pooled their shares of dam site purchase money to buy Viejas Valley. The Viejas continue to share a joint-trust patent with the Barona Band for the 15,000 acres remaining as the Capitan Grande Reservation.
Viejas Tribal Government Currently, some 281 persons call the Viejas Reservation home. The Viejas Band's democratic government consists of two levels. The General Council, which includes all of the Band's 157 adult voting members, elects the Tribal Chairman, Tribal Council, and by law, votes on all land use decisions. Tribal Council Members and the Tribal Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer are elected for two-year terms of office. Consisting of six members and the Tribal Chairman, the Tribal Council governs tribal activities and makes law, acting as the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches of government. The Tribal Council also serves as the "Board of Directors" for Viejas Band economic enterprises.
Modern Roles
The modern roles of Viejas Band men and women reflect those of society at-large. Traditionally, women have held an equal voice in tribal decisions and government. In common with the larger culture, the Kumeyaay value freedom of religion and expression, the right of self-determination, the opportunity to live in peace, adequate housing, education for the children, and the maintenance of a healthy and safe environment, free from crime and pollution.
Only a few years ago, Viejas Reservation unemployment was as high as 80 percent. Sixty percent of the housing was substandard. Today, as a result of revenues from tribal government gaming, there is no unemployment. The Band has built new homes, improved older residences, expanded the Tribal Government Center, constructed a community park, fire station, and a senior citizens center, and otherwise provide for the health and well-being of tribal members. In addition, the Band has embarked on a multimillion-dollar series of environmental projects to restore the reservation land, watershed, streams and wetlands.
The Viejas Band values educational achievement, forming a Tribal Education Committee to initiate new educational and cultural programs and projects. Children of Viejas attend schools in the Alpine Union School District and the Grossmont High School District. From two recently constructed schools on the Viejas Reservation, tribal members of all ages are afforded opportunities to supplement their education, including that on the computer in the tribe's computer lab. Tribal government gaming revenues have made it possible for every child and adult member to receive an education from the preschool through the post doctorate level through a scholarship program, which includes room and board. The Band also makes financial contributions to support local public schools from its tribal government gaming revenues.
In addition to the Viejas Casino and Turf Club, the Band owns the reservation-located Ma-Tar-Awa Recreational Vehicle Park, the $35 million Viejas Outlet Center, Alpine RV Park, and owns majority interest in the Borrego Springs Bank.