KUMEYAAY MUSEUM

The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian "Our Lives" exhibition Kumeyaay museum display features the Campo Band of Kumeyaay Indians, Kumeyaay Nation, Mission Indians.

From the Smithsonian placard:

We gather with other Kumeyaay bands from California and Mexico to socialize, celebrate, and share traditions. Through the bonds of singing, dancing, basketmaking, and pottery making, we are coming together and bringing down the border.

- Campo Kumeyaay Curators, 2003

Campo Band of the Kumeyaay Nation official Kumeyaay Indian Nation web site: www.campo-nsn.gov

PHOTO SHOOT and digital production contributed by Hank and Shirley Murphy.

30 MILES DUE SOUTH OF THE CAMPO INDIAN RESERVATION:

The Campo Indian Reservation butts up against the U.S.-Mexico international border.

San Antonio Necua -- one of the four Kumiai tribal ejidos in Mexico -- is located about 30 miles directly below Campo.

Social fiestas and gatherings around campfires with storytelling, bird singing and dancing are Kumeyaay tribal culture experience.

KUMEYAAY INDIAN vaqueros bareback on horseback encircle and torch a Native American tribal bonfire during the San Antonio Necua annual KUMIAI FIESTA, northwest Baja California, Mexico, June 2005.

The Native American pyrotechnics and equestrian, the Kumiai indians on caballo indio, fire shows are part of the traditional KUMEYAAY FIESTA gathering of the Indigenous Native tribal celebrations of northern Baja California, Mexico.

Featuring Jon Mesa (aka Juan Meza Cuero) Kumiai-Tipaay, and Demetrio Pulido, Kumiai, La Huerta, Song Leaders, cultural bird singing and bird dancing by the indigenous San Antonio Necua Kumiai Indians of Baja California Norte, Mexico.

Video, photos and Web site design by, GARY G BALLARD, San Diego, Calif.