Cupeño
The Cupeño (or Kuupangaxwichem) are a Native American tribe of Southern California.
For the language, see Cupeño language.They traditionally lived about 50 miles (80 km) inland and 50 miles (80 km) north of the modern day Mexico–United States border in the Peninsular Range of Southern California.[2] Today their descendants are members of the federally recognized tribes known as the Pala Band of Luiseno Mission Indians, Morongo Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians, and Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians.[3]
Language[edit]
The Cupeño language belongs to the Cupan group, which includes the Cahuilla and Luiseño languages. This grouping is of the Takic branch within the Uto-Aztecan family of languages.[2] Roscinda Nolásquez (1892–1987), of Mexican Yaqui descent, is considered the last truly fluent Cupeño speaker.[19] The language today is widely regarded as being extinct. In 1994, linguist Leanne Hinton estimated one to five people still spoke Cupeño, and nine people in the 1990 US census said they spoke the language.[20] Educational materials for the language exist and young people still learn to sing in Cupeño, particularly Bird Songs.[21]