Animals

Our Creation story tells us that all beings were brought to life on the earth at the same time. Animals are considered to be relatives of the Luiseño People. They present themselves to us and allow us to obtain them for food and other uses. It is an agreement, or part of our relationship.

Some of these animals include:

Abalone
(Haliotis sp.)

Bighorn Sheep
(Ovis canadensis)

Black-tailed Jack Rabbit
(Lepus californicus)

California Quail
(Callipepla californica)

Canada Goose
(Branta Canadensis)

Clam
(Pecten sp.)

Cottontail Rabbit
(Sylvilagus audubonii)

Dusky-footed Woodrat
(Neotoma fuscipes)

Golden Eagle
(Aquila chrysaetos)

Ground Squirrel
(Otospermophilus beecheyi)

Mallard Duck
(Anas platyrhynchos)

Mule Deer
(Odocoileus hemionus)

Pronghorn Antelope
(Antilocapra americana)

Rainbow Trout
(Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Redtail Hawk
(Buteo jamaicensis)

Western Pond Turtle
(Clemmys marmorata)

Nuttall’s Woodpecker
(Picoides nuttallii)

Our people also utilized other animals not listed here, including many birds, insects, fish, and shellfish.

Traditional Summer Youth Program

The Pechanga youth, ages 12 through 17, has developed a Traditional Knowledge Summer Youth Program. The program aims to establish an infrastructure where knowledge and skills are passed on as it was done long ago. The program is currently in their tenth year.

The major objective of the program is to introduce students to the traditional life ways and skills of the Luiseño People. Some of these include:

• making arrowheads and arrows
• basket weaving
• pottery
• cordage
• tule canoes
• willow
• tule houses
• traditional games

Familiarity with traditional foods, such as acorn mush, cherry pit mush, pine nut soup, yucca and Indian potato, is also a major component of the program.

One of the program's objectives is to arm those youth who complete the program with the skills and knowledge they need to become teachers and administrators of the program.

Traditional Sites