Pala Band of Mission Indians

The Pala Band of Mission Indians is located in northern San Diego County, where a majority of the approximately 1,000 enrolled members live on their 11,000-acre reservation, established for Cupeño and Luiseño Indians, who consider themselves to be one proud people – Pala.

The Cupeños

The word Cupeño is of Spanish derivation, adopting the native place-name Kupa and appending Spanish — “eño” to mean a person who lives in or hails from Kupa. The Cupeños, 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 1,000 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 Cupeños call Pala home and live as one among the Luiseño tribe.

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Honorable Robert Smith

Chairperson, Pala Band of Mission Indians

For more than two decades, Robert Smith has dedicated himself toward improving the way of life for the members of the Pala Band of Mission Indians. As Tribal Chair, he played an integral role in the complex negotiations that resulted in Governor Wilson’s signing of the Pala-State Compact in 1998, a groundbreaking agreement that legalized gaming on tribal lands and helped to ensure the continued economic freedom and independence of tribes throughout the state. In 2004, Mr. Smith was one of five tribal leaders to work side-by-side with Governor Schwarzenegger to come to an agreement on a set of compacts that benefited both the tribes and the state of California. Chairman Smith was intimately involved in all decisions leading to the construction and development of the Tribe’s Pala Casino Resort and Spa, which opened in 2000.

Mr. Smith takes great pride in being actively involved in the community and lends his time and energy to a variety of organizations. He serves as a board member for the Vivian Banks Charter School Parent Advisory Board and for the National Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Board, and he is a member of the National Fire Protection Agency, the California State Fireman Association, the National Indian Gaming Association, the National Congress of American Indians and is a delegate on the National Bureau of Indian Tribal Leaders Budget Committee. He is also chairman of the Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association, Indian Health Council for Northern San Diego County, Californian Indian Manpower Consortium and the Cupa Cultural Center.