Kumeyaay

Kumeyaay country extends from the Pacific coast across mountains and desert in southern California and northern Baja California. Its communities spoke related Yuman languages and used a variety of environments, gathering plants, hunting and travelling between places suited to different seasons. Villages in the coastal valleys maintained connections with people farther inland.

In 1769 Spanish soldiers and Franciscan missionaries established a presidio and mission at San Diego in Kumeyaay territory. Their presence brought conflict over people, land and authority. In November 1775 Kumeyaay from numerous villages attacked and burned the mission, killing a missionary and two other men. The Spanish rebuilt, but the uprising demonstrated the strength of resistance to the new settlements and their demands. The burned mission was later rebuilt as the Spanish maintained their foothold in the valley.

The later city of Tijuana lies here.