OverView

(Above) This is the overview of the entire village, looking east. At the foothills just east of the Jamul Indian Village was the original village home site. This photograph was taken about 1970, all the homes on the village had out-houses and no running water. Water was transported by buckets or pails to larger water containers within the homes. Telephone service came in 1960's prior to running water. Electricity came to the village in the 1970's. Some homes still used wood burning stoves, some homes were given small apartment sized propane stoves to cook and or heat water for bathing and cooking purposes. Clothing and other household goods were donated to the Indians by the local Catholic Church and others charitable organizations that had heard of the living conditions of the Village.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Most occupants did not have a vehicle for transportation therefore walked to the stores and places of employment in the area. In early times many Native American children were taken away from their homes and families and relocated to Indian Schools such as Sherman Institute in Riverside County, California and in the State of Nevada . Later, local school houses were built and some returned home to attend them.

 

   
 

  

(Above) Home of John Mesa and other male Native Americans could be defined as a bachelor pad. Those males would move in and out, not really staying for long durations. The house was built long ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

(Above) This home was built by Mary Sanchez with the help of a few tribal people. As some of the children that lived in these homes became aware of the haves and have-nots outside of the tribe, it became embarrassing very quickly to those whose homes were visible to the school bus. Carlene Chamberlain as growing up recalls feeling shame in knowing where she lived, like many other tribal children at this time.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

(Above left) This home was occupied by Ramona Mesa. She raised some of her Grandchildren at this home as well. This home also had a dirt floor.  As time went on, the roof began to leak, a tarp was given to her and the local men covered the roof for her. When returning to the village, this home became empty and tribal member Carlene Chamberlain remembers staying with her mother there for a night. Carlene can remember late that same night while sleeping, her mother waking her and literally running out of the home with her. Her mother had turned on the flashlight after feeling something crawling on her and found many black widow spiders descending on them. Jesse Pinto Sr recalls moving to the same home with his Grandmother in 1965, the living conditions were the same then.  Eventually the home destroyed and a new home was built for Ramona Mesa.

(Above right) This home was built to replace the shack with the tarp on the roof. 

 

 (Above) Caroline Cuero & Family