1882 Cantina

The History of 1882

1882 was one of the most important years ever in the history of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. On June 27, 1882, President Chester A. Arthur issued an Executive Order re-establishing the government-to-government relationship between Pechanga and the United States and setting aside a mere 4,000 acres for the Pechanga Indian Reservation.

The Pechanga People have lived in the Temecula Valley since time immemorial. Finally, 30 years after the conclusion of the Treaty at the Village of Temecula, the promise of permanent lands for the Pechanga People was fulfilled. The Treaty of Temecula would have given tribes about 12,000 square miles of Southern California. But as gold was discovered in California, the U.S. Senate did not ratify the Treaty of Temecula - along with 17 others. State actions led to California Native Americans being legally exterminated, enslaved, and oppressed. Millions of acres of land were forcibly taken by the State of California for the benefit of individuals and corporations.

Our ancestors endured floods, fires, droughts, economic scarcity, disease, and invasions, struggling to survive to ensure a better life for future generations. Thanks to them, a new day has dawned in which our Tribe is realizing self-reliance and employing thousands of Californians. With confidence that our children and grandchildren will preserve our tribal sovereignty, our culture and traditions, we look forward to a bright future.