The Luiseño Theory of Knowledge
Ayelkwi is the definition of the Luiseño world view. The word is loosely translatable as "knowledge," but has many properties and functions that fall outside that translation. Ayelkwi defines relations between different groups, people and objects.
It is a thing that must be acquired, and different groups have different amounts of ayelkwi (both within the tribe and between multiple tribes). The goal within Luiseño history has been to acquire ayelkwi from other tribes while protecting their own ayelkwi. Living beings (including natural surroundings such as rocks) possess ayelkwi. This knowledge can also be acquired at birth, put in or taken out through ceremonies, picked up from surroundings, and learned through instruction, experience, or dreaming.
There are four types of ayelkwi: common knowledge, innate knowledge, formulated knowledge, and residual knowledge. Formulated knowledge is represented by ritual and formed at meetings and ceremonies, while residual knowledge can be gathered from the environment.
The concept of ayelkwi is essential to Luiseño individual and tribal identity. The tribe’s beliefs and desire for secrecy regarding these sacred matters must be respected. The vandalism of the site infringes upon ayelkwi by inhibiting the acquisition of knowledge which comes from a connection with the natural world and possible ceremonial activity. In our efforts to restore the site, we must also respect these beliefs and the right to secrecy. As part of our effort, we have consulted with tribal members regarding the information published on this website.
Pechanga Tribe Economics
The Pechanga value self-sufficiency
and economic self-determination; as a result of this, they entered into the
casino business in the 1990s.
There are federal laws related to gaming, specifically Section 11 (a)(2)(B)
of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), net revenues from tribal government
gaming may be used only:
To fund tribal government operations
or programs
To provide for the general welfare of the Native American tribe and its members
(Indian governmental services and programs)
To promote tribal economic development
For charitable causes
To help fund operations of local governments
The Pechanga Development Corporation views gaming as a means to create jobs and to achieve long-term economic diversification and independence for the tribe. In the future, they hope to “invest in off-reservation enterprises, thereby continu[ing] to strengthen the economy of [their] region, and further enter into the commercial mainstream of California.”
San Luis Rey Band Economics
The San Luis Rey Band of Luiseño Indians has nowhere near the collective community and shared financial development of the Pechanga. Instead the San Luis Rey Band has kept its identity as a people within the local communities that now exist on ancestral tribal lands. Elective leadership committees and volunteers help to oversee the affairs of the tribe, but they struggle to survive.
Attempts at Self-Determination
The Pechanga are a federally recognized
tribe, allowing them more access to many more resources than the San Luis
Rey. The San Luis Rey Band has had a long, complicated history trying to attain
self-determination, beginning in the 1800s. In January of 1870, Ulysses S.
Grant set aside land to give to the Luiseño, but this angered local
ranchers and Grant revoked this decree. Since then the Luiseño have
struggled to become federally recognized. In the 1870s, Manuel Olegario was
elected as a leader of at least twelve villages of Luiseño, signifying
a unification that was a departure from previous leadership. This resulted
in the award of land to the Luiseño, but the San Luis Rey were never
granted reservations.
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