Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation
Encyclopedia
The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation is a federally recognized tribe of Mission Indians
from Southern California
, near the El Cajon
. The Sycuan band are a Kumeyaay
tribe, one of the four ethnic groups indigenous to San Diego County
.
The band operates two waste water treatment plants, a sequencing batch reactor
used for their casino, administrative buildings, and maintenance buildings. They also operate and own a modular treatment plant in a flood plain near one of their residential areas. The tribe operates a water treatment facility which controls their nitrate levels. Additionally, the tribe has and operates a small medical clinic, dental office, a fire department and a small tribal police force. In 2005, they eliminated their environmental department for political and economic reasons. In 2004, they installed a new air conditioning system, internal control systems, and a new parking lot.
. The Sycuan Band opened its first gambling facility, the Sycuan Bingo Palace, on their reservation in 1983. As a direct evolution from that successful venture, they now run a profitable casino
, as well as an off-reservation golf course (purchased from a previous owner) and hotel
(new construction on the golf course site) on the southeastern outskirts of El Cajon, California
, which itself is an eastern suburb of San Diego, California
. The Sycuan band is not the only San Diego-area band to operate significant commercial enterprises off-reservation.
The Sycuan band has also recently purchased the downtown San Diego landmark U. S. Grant Hotel
. It also advertises heavily in relation to the San Diego Padres
major-league baseball team (including both television and radio commercials during game broadcasts, and posted advertising at PETCO Park
, the team's home field).
to support the Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming
, a research institute at San Diego State University
.
Mission Indians
Mission Indians is a term for many Native California tribes, primarily living in coastal plains, adjacent inland valleys and mountains, and on the Channel Islands in central and southern California, United States. The tribes had established comparatively peaceful cultures varying from 250 to 8,000...
from Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, near the El Cajon
El Cajon, California
-History:El Cajon is located on the Rancho El Cajon Mexican land grant made in 1845 to María Antonia Estudillo, wife of Miguel Pedrorena. In 1876 Amaziah Lord Knox , a New Englander who had recently moved to California, established a hotel there to serve the growing number of people traveling...
. The Sycuan band are a Kumeyaay
Kumeyaay
The Kumeyaay, also known as Tipai-Ipai, Kamia, or formerly Diegueño, are Native American people of the extreme southwestern United States and northwest Mexico. They live in the states of California in the US and Baja California in Mexico. In Spanish, the name is commonly spelled...
tribe, one of the four ethnic groups indigenous to San Diego County
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
.
Reservation and administration
Daniel Tucker is their current tribal spokesperson.The band operates two waste water treatment plants, a sequencing batch reactor
Sequencing batch reactor
Sequencing batch reactors or sequential batch reactors are industrial processing tanks for the treatment of wastewater. SBR reactors treat waste water such as sewage or output from anaerobic digesters or mechanical biological treatment facilities in batches...
used for their casino, administrative buildings, and maintenance buildings. They also operate and own a modular treatment plant in a flood plain near one of their residential areas. The tribe operates a water treatment facility which controls their nitrate levels. Additionally, the tribe has and operates a small medical clinic, dental office, a fire department and a small tribal police force. In 2005, they eliminated their environmental department for political and economic reasons. In 2004, they installed a new air conditioning system, internal control systems, and a new parking lot.
Economic development
The move toward casino gaming on the Sycuan Band reservation was spearheaded by the Sycuan Band's former chairwoman, Anna Prieto SandovalAnna Prieto Sandoval
Anna Prieto Sandoval was an American leader of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation of southern California and a Native American gaming enterprises pioneer...
. The Sycuan Band opened its first gambling facility, the Sycuan Bingo Palace, on their reservation in 1983. As a direct evolution from that successful venture, they now run a profitable casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
, as well as an off-reservation golf course (purchased from a previous owner) and hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
(new construction on the golf course site) on the southeastern outskirts of El Cajon, California
El Cajon, California
-History:El Cajon is located on the Rancho El Cajon Mexican land grant made in 1845 to María Antonia Estudillo, wife of Miguel Pedrorena. In 1876 Amaziah Lord Knox , a New Englander who had recently moved to California, established a hotel there to serve the growing number of people traveling...
, which itself is an eastern suburb of San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. The Sycuan band is not the only San Diego-area band to operate significant commercial enterprises off-reservation.
The Sycuan band has also recently purchased the downtown San Diego landmark U. S. Grant Hotel
U. S. Grant Hotel
The U.S. Grant Hotel is a historic hotel in downtown San Diego, California. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is 11 stories high and has 270 guest rooms in addition to meeting rooms and a ballroom.-History:...
. It also advertises heavily in relation to the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
major-league baseball team (including both television and radio commercials during game broadcasts, and posted advertising at PETCO Park
PETCO Park
Petco Park is an open-air ballpark in downtown San Diego, California, USA. It opened in 2004, replacing Qualcomm Stadium as the home park of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. Before then, the Padres shared Qualcomm Stadium with the NFL's San Diego Chargers...
, the team's home field).
Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming
The Sycuan band also provides an endowmentFinancial endowment
A financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution. The total value of an institution's investments is often referred to as the institution's endowment and is typically organized as a public charity, private foundation, or trust....
to support the Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming
Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming
The Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming at San Diego State University focuses on research, policy studies, and education related to the area of tribal gaming management...
, a research institute at San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
.