Point Loma – Environmental Management of Pre-Contact Kumeyaay
Point Loma, the Silver Strand, and Mission Beach Strand were national territory – that it they belonged to the Kumeyaay as a whole, not to any one band. Any Kumeyaay from throughout the Kumeyaay nation could come here to fish, gather shellfish, hunt the game here, and use the plants of these lands.
Point Loma was covered with oak trees and some pine trees (probably a few Torrey Pines). Under the trees, the native grain grew, (now extinct) along with various leafy annuals. The rocky areas and steep slopes had a variety of chaparral plants that grew naturally.
The regular burning periods, erosion control features and water (i.e. drinking water) management was done generally under the control of the local bands with assistance from many who came regularly. There were Kumeyaay (environmental specialists) who directed the people when some action was necessary.
Shellfish and various plants were taken from the mud flats and the mudflat edges bot in “False Bay” and San Diego Bay. The San Diego River used to swing into either bay. What is now Midway and Sports Arena was black wet mud and tidal flats with a river channel, which could split or go to either bay as it came past Cosoy.
Mission Bay had some open water but was mostly shallow water over mud flats and marshlands. Your poled a reed boat through the reeds to gather plant roots, small white “worm-like” creatures. They were fried and eaten – very tasty. Also, they hunted birds when the migratory geese and ducks flew in for the winter. When the bird started up, they would sling a bola at it and tangle it to bring it down. A bola was made using 2 or 3 round ball-like stones tied on a rope.
They used rabbit sticks for small game – rabbits, chipmunk, badgers, foxes, etc. and bows and arrows for deer ‘e kwuk and antelope u muuhl. These animals roamed the Point as well as out onto the sand strands from the mainland connection (Otaay-Tijuan) to the south or Mutlahuu and Jamo (PacificBeach – Rose Canyon region), to the north.