It was established in 1893.[6] In 1973, none of the 4 enrolled members lived on the reservation.[2]
History
Native Americans building a Spanish Mission
Mission Indians are indigenous people of California who were forcibly removed from their lands and placed in Franciscan Missions during the mid-16th century because of Spanish settlers. There are approximately 21 Franciscan Mission within California starting from San Jose and ending in San Diego. Many of the Missions we see today were built by native tribes who forced to create these monuments by corporal punishment
Most of the Indians who lived within these Missions across California, were regional natives who had resided within these lands for centuries. The La Posta Band of Diegueño Mission Indians are a sub group of the Kumeyaay band of Indians. Evidence shows that these tribes have been present within California for more than 12,000 years. The La Posta Mission Indians share the same ancestral roots as the Kumeyaay people which began with the association the California Coast and Valley tradition and the Desert tradition.
Language
La Posta Band Mission Indians speak three languages English, Kumeyaay, and Tiipai
The natives can speak three languages based on the geographical area in which they live. Tiipai is mainly seen in tribes of northern Baja California and Southern San Diego, which is known as Southern Diegueño. Since the reservation of this tribe expands 4,000 acres, some of its territory extends towards Yuma Arizona where their closest relatives reside. Tiipai belongs to the Yuman branch of the greater Hokan linguistic family.[7] This is one of the reasons why they have adopted the Southern Diegueño language. With regards to Kumeyaay, this tribe is able to speak this language based on its ancestral origins that derived from the Kumeyaay tribe, which they share similar languages, cultural and spiritual practices.
Government
The La Posta Band is headquartered in Boulevard. They are governed by a democratically elected tribal council. Eric LaChappa is their current tribal chairperson.[8] The La Posta Reservation is governed by a general council. Elected council members include a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, secretary/Treasurer and two council members at large. Elected members serve two-year terms, and the general council meets quarterly. The band is organized under an IRA constitution that was approved on March 5, 1973.
Economic development
The tribe owned and operated the La Posta Casino and Marie's Restaurant in Boulevard which closed in 2012.[9]
Education
The tribes education comes from the Mountain Empire Unified School District that was founded in 1923. The economic development of the district has increased over that last few years allowing it to now consist of two elementary schools, Pre-K through 8th grade; two elementary schools, Pre-K through 5th grade; two middle schools, 6th through 8th grade; one high school; an Alternative Education Program and a Transition Program which serves Special Education students after high school, ages 18 to 22.[10]
^"About MEUSD". Mountain Empire USD. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
Sources
Eargle, Jr., Dolan H. Northern California Guide: Weaving the Past and Present. San Francisco: Tree Company Press, 2000. ISBN0-937401-10-2.
Pritzker, Barry M. A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN978-0-19-513877-1.
Shipek, Florence C. "History of Southern California Mission Indians." Handbook of North American Indians. Volume ed. Heizer, Robert F. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 1978. 610-618. ISBN0-87474-187-4.
