The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians is a federally recognized tribe of Luiseño people, who are part of the Cupeno group of Native Americans, located in Riverside County, California. They are the largest American Indian tribe in California, and their reservation occupies more than 35,000 acres (140 km2) near the city of Temecula.
The Pechanga Band operates one of the largest casinos in the state, the Pechanga Resort & Casino.
Get Started! Fast Withdrawal Slots Bonuses:
The Luiseño people have lived in the area for more than 10,000 years, and prior to European contact, their territory extended from southern California to northern Baja California. The tribe was divided into two regional groUPS: the Pass Cahuilla on the coast and the mountain Cahuilla in the inland areas.
The two groUPS were further divided into villages. The Pechanga band were part of the Cupeno villages that inhabited Temecula, Pauma Valley and Warner Springs.
The Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza was the first European to visit the area in 1774, and he noted that there were a number of villages in the area inhabited by a “gentle and friendly” people whom he called Los Cupeños. In 1842, United States Army Captain Abraham Rynerson was sent to the area to establish a military post as part of what became known as the Mexican-American War (1846-1848).
He named the post Campo de los Robles (Field of Oaks), but it was later renamed Camp Jayawackem after Major Jacob Walzer Kemper who served there during the war.
In 1848, as a result of the war, California became part of the United States and American settlers began moving into the area. In 1850, Congress established Riverside County which includes present-day Temecula.
In 1852, American settlers founded the city of Temecula which quickly became a center for trade and commerce in southern California.
The Pechanga Band remained on their land during this time period but faced increasing pressure from settlers who were eager to move into their territory. In 1876, Congress passed the Indian Appropriations Act which authorized funds to be used for forced removal of Native Americans from their lands if necessary.
In 1882, under this act, over 500 Menominee people from Wisconsin were relocated to a reservation in Nebraska against their will. This act set a precedent for future relocations of Native Americans across the United States.
In 1903, Charles Lummis wrote an article called “A Reservation for Los Cupeños” which was published in Out West magazine. Lummis was a well-known journalist and historian who advocated for Native American rights.
In his article, he described conditions on the reservation at that time and urged Congress to take action to improve them. He also suggested that if nothing was done to improve conditions on the reservation that the Pechanga band should be relocated to Pala Indian Reservation which had been established in 1891 for Mission Indians from southern California.
In 1905, Congress passed what is known as The Indian Reorganization Act (IRA). This act reversed many of previous policies regarding Native Americans including forcing them onto reservations and relocating them against their will.
It also gave tribes more autonomy in self-governance including establishing business enterprises such as casinos which could generate income for tribal members.
In 1977, under The Indian Reorganization Act, The Pechanga Band filed a lAWSuit against Riverside County over its zoning policies which they claimed were preventing them from developing their reservation land. The case went all the way to the United States Supreme Court which ruled in favor of The Pechanga Band saying that Riverside County had violated federal law by not consulting with them about its zoning policies which affected their reservation land.
This ruling opened up opportunities for other tribes across America to file similar lAWSuits if they felt they were being treated unfairly by state or local governments.
In 1987 Deukmejian signed legislation adding 750 acres (3 km2) called Wolf Mountain onto existing trust lands held by Pechanga Tribe bringing total reservation size to about 1125 acres (4 km2).
In 2019 ground was broken for a $285 million expansion project at Pala Casino Spa & Resort owned by Pala Band Mission Indians another cupeno group; this will include 568 hotel rooms bringing total number at resort to 854; 507000 sq ft casino; new spa & salon; meeting & convention space; pools; restaurants; bars; entertainment venues when completed project is scheduled to open late 2020 early 2021
Pechanga Resort & Casino is owned and operated by The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians who are descendants of Native Americans who have lived in southern California for over 10,000 years. They are one of largest American Indian tribes in California and operate one of largest casinos in state which generates income for tribal members through business enterprises such as gambling & tourism.
