Barona Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians facts for kids
Tribal flag
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| Total population | |
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| 490 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| United States (California) | |
| Languages | |
| Ipai, Tipai, English | |
| Religion | |
| Traditional tribal religion, Christianity (Roman Catholicism) |
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| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Kumeyaay tribes, Cocopa, Quechan, Paipai, and Kiliwa |
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Barona Reservation
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Reservation
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| Country | United States | |
| State | California | |
| Population
(1973)
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| • Total | 125 | |
The Barona Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians of the Barona Reservation is a Native American tribe. They are part of the Kumeyaay people. This tribe is officially recognized by the United States government. They are sometimes called Mission Indians.
The Barona Tribe's Lands
The Barona tribe, along with the Viejas Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians, once shared a place called the Capitan Grande Reservation. This land was mostly mountains and not easy to live on.
Later, the city of San Diego bought part of this land. They needed it to build the El Capitan Reservoir for water. This reservoir covered the best parts of the reservation. Today, the two tribes still own this original reservation together. It is kept as a natural area.
The Barona Reservation Today
The Barona Reservation is a special area of land set aside for the tribe. It is located in San Diego County, California. You can find it near Lakeside and the Cleveland National Forest.
The reservation got its name from an old Mexican land grant. This grant was named after Padre José Barona. He was a friar at Mission San Diego de Alcalá a long time ago. The Barona Reservation was officially started in 1932.
It covers about 5,181 acres (21 square kilometers). A lot of the land in the valley is good for farming. On the reservation, you can find several ranches, a church, and tribal offices. There is also a community center and a baseball park built by the tribe. In 1973, 125 tribal members lived on the reservation. The closest town is San Diego Country Estates.
How the Barona Tribe Supports Itself
The Barona tribe has created many businesses to support its community. They own and run the Barona Resort and Casino. This resort also includes the AmBience Day Spa and the Barona Creek Golf Club.
They also have several restaurants at the resort. These include the Barona Steakhouse, Sage Café, Seasons Fresh Buffet, and HoWan Noodle Shop. The tribe is also working on a new energy project. This project is planned for 2026 and is partly funded by the California Energy Commission.
