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Arts & Culture

First People - Kumeyaay

Traditional Kumeyaay territory stretches from San Diego's coast to the desert. Frank Salazar, a member of the Campo Band of Kumeyaay Indians said Kumeyaay territory had the most diverse geography of any other tribe in the United States.
Courtesy of First People - Kumeyaay
Traditional Kumeyaay territory stretches from San Diego's coast to the desert. Frank Salazar, a member of the Campo Band of Kumeyaay Indians said Kumeyaay territory had the most diverse geography of any other tribe in the United States.

Airs Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015 at 11 p.m. on KPBS TV

The Kumeyaay Nation at one time lived throughout this region and is currently comprised of 13 reservations scattered across San Diego County and four in northern Baja California. The Kumeyaay people who live on and off these reservations share a heritage that goes back, in their words, "to the beginning of time."

This film explores some aspects of this resilient culture including the gathering and preparation of acorns, making of various tools, agave harvesting and roasting. The core this film presents the importance of sharing and maintaining their Kumeyaay cultural heritage and passing it along to future generations.