TECATE MT. HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT GATHERING
October 16, 1999 was almost summer-like while the Sun is shining. The day is cool under the shade of the ramadas erected for the event by the Peace and Dignity project. Carlos Pelayo and wife Elena are the driving force organizing the logistics and support of the days activities. Financially under written by local philanthropist Anna Sandoval, this is a designated Kumeyaay only event. All Kumeyaay elders are invited, but due to the challenge of the access road and the initial nature of the activity, participation is at best, limited.   The Young Bird Singers from Campo, led by "Jr." Cuero, are on hand. They bring a special quality to the activity. This is a youth singing group that is very popular and constantly on call for Reservation events. Kumeyaay people from all International areas, without borders, attend this day. This Tecate site is long been a part of the traditional meeting areas for many significant reasons.

Finally, the Peace and Dignity project invites
all Kumeyaay elders and culture bearers to the
Tecate Mountain location (U.S. of A. side!) the third weekend of the month.
This is a Kumeyaay invited event.
For more formation: (619) 420-8063.

Submitted by: Roy Cook

Tribe split by U.S.-Mexico border will receive crossing cards
San Diego, California (AP)
Some Kumiai Indians in Mexico who have been separated from other members of their nation by the U.S.-Mexico border will receive border-crossing cards to ease their trips between the two countries.
The cards are the same as those used to cross daily by thousands of Mexicans and allow bearers to travel up to 25 miles north of the border and stay as long as 72 hours. Kumiai Indians in Mexico have been asked to use the Tecate Mexico port of entry. They were scheduled to receive their border crossing cards Jan. 19. The cards will be issued to about 50 Kumiai who have Mexican passports. They had hoped for a special card of their own but the border crossing cards were a move in the right direction, said Louie Guassac, a Mesa Grande tribal member and coordinator
of a Kumeyaay border task force. "It's good progress. We're moving forward," Guassac said.
The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo separated the Kumiai in Baja California and the Kumeyaay of San Diego County. The task force in San Diego County is working with U.S. authorities to secure rights for the 1,000 or so Baja Kumiai to cross the border giving them "pass and repass" privileges.
Under agreements reached last fall, criteria have been loosened to allow the Kumiai more leeway to obtain Mexican passports, which is needed for a U.S.-issued border-crossing card. Instead of requiring a birth certificate, Kumiai will be allowed to show a baptismal certificate as identification. "Because of their community customs... they don't have the (usual) documents," said Agustin Rodriguez, director of border affairs and judicial cooperation for San Diego's Mexican Consulate. "We're aware of that situation and take it into consideration." Eventually the Kumiai want to bring baskets, pottery and other hand-made items into the United States to sell in an attempt to raise money for their poor villages.