Evidence of our presence before the arrival of Europeans survives throughout the valley. We call ourselves Payómkawichum (the People of the West), and we are made up of seven bands: Pechanga, Pauma, Pala, Rincon, San Luis Rey, La Jolla, and Soboba. Groups of people now known as Luiseño Indians have inhabited the Temecula Valley for thousands of years. Teméeku was the place where the world as we know it came to be: events that took place here determined how some people became plants and animals, how people dealt with sickness and death, why some things could be eaten yet others could not, and all the other details of life in native California. Life on earth began in this valley at ‘Éxva Teméeku, the birthplace of the Káamalam (First Children).

The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians has called the Temecula valley home for more than 10,000 years.