The Kumeyaay (Kumiai) Indians are a tribal group with a territory that encompasses large portions of Southern California and Baja California, Mexico. Following the formalization of the U.S./Mexico border in 1848, traditional Kumeyaay lands were effectively split between the two nations, with segments of the tribe residing on opposite sides of the border. Though the passage of individuals from recognized tribal groups is ostensibly protected between the U.S. and Mexico, myriad issues prevent those residing in Mexico from regularly crossing the border to attend cultural events and visit kin. The inability to retain interactions complicates cultural revitalization goals and visions of binational tribal unity. In many ways the border, as a constraint to the mobility of tribal members between nations, produces an imbalanced structural dynamic that has distinct consequences for cultural revitalization initiatives and economic development within the Kumeyaay community. This thesis situates indigenous border crossing issues within a multiscalar dynamic that encompasses both grassroots and governmental approaches towards improving transportation amongst the Kumeyaay communities of Southern California and Baja.
