The word Cupeno is of Spanish derivation, adopting the native place-name Kupa and appending Spanish - 'eno' to mean a person who lives in or hails from Kupa. The Cupenos, however, called themselves Kuupangaxwichem, or "people who slept here."
The Cupans were one of the smallest native American tribes in Southern California. It is unlikely that they ever numbered more than 1000 in size. They once occupied a territory 10 square miles in diameter in a mountainous region at the headwaters of the San Luis Rey River in the valley of San Jose de Valle. Many of the Pala Indians trace their heritage back to Cupa. Today, more than 90 years after having been expelled from their native homeland, the Cupenos call Pala, California home and live as one among the Luiseno tribe.
DIRECTORY:
| Tribal Government |
Phone# |
Fax# |
Age Groups |
| Pala Tribal Office |
760-591-0926 |
760-742-1293 |
|
| Pala Education Committee |
760-742-1997 |
760-742-1178 |
|
| Pala Band of Mission Indians ICFS |
760-742-1590 |
|
|
| Education |
Phone# |
Fax# |
Age Groups |
| Pala Library and Learning Center |
760-742-1997 |
760-742-1178 |
K-12th |
| Little Feathers Educational Program |
760-742-1480 |
760-742-1178 |
|
| Fallbrook Union High School District Office |
760-723-6332 |
760-723-1795 |
|
| Bonsall Union School District Office |
760-631-5200 |
760-758-3193 |
|
| Culture |
Phone# |
Fax# |
Age Groups |
| Cupa Cultural Center |
760-742-1590 |
760-742-4543 |
|
| Recreation / Community Resources |
Phone# |
Fax# |
Age Groups |
| Pala Boys and Girls Club |
760-742-1808 |
|
|
| Southern California Tribal Digital Village |
Phone# |
Fax# |
Age Groups |
| TDV Representative |
760-742-3784 |
|
|
|
