Private Project

Nya’waap Illyuw Uuchyuwp—Our Way of Knowing

Nya’waap Illyuw Uuchyuwp—Our Way of Knowing is a twenty-minute film that shares the origin story of the Barona Band of the Kumeyaay, never before shared publicly. The film interweaves live action and original animation with songs and storytelling by Kumeyaay elders. Produced in collaboration between the Barona Band of Mission Indians and Winikur Productions, this film helps preserve this vital cultural knowledge.

  • The Barona Band of the Kumeyaay
    Director
  • Ken Winikur
    Director
  • The Barona Band of the Kumeyaay
    Writer
  • John Delancey
    Story Adapted for Screen by
  • The Barona Band of the Kumeyaay
    Producer
  • Steve Benegas
    Key Cast
  • Paul Cuero
    Key Cast
  • Pat Curo
    Key Cast
  • Mandy Curo de Quintero
    Key Cast
  • Brian VanWanseele
    Key Cast
  • Kevin VanWanseele
    Key Cast
  • Phyllis VanWanseele
    Key Cast
  • Joseph Yeats
    Key Cast
  • Ethan Banegas
    Key Cast
  • Marshall Mair
    Key Cast
  • Gray Wolf Alto
    Key Cast
  • Daniela Quintero
    Key Cast
  • Carmen Quintero
    Key Cast
  • Wylie Elliott
    Key Cast
  • John Christman
    Key Cast
  • Kathleen Judge
    Animator
  • Stephen LoVerme
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 36 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 9, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - The Barona Band of the Kumeyaay, Ken Winikur

Established in 1932, the Barona Indian Reservation is home to this regal tribe, which is recognized by the United States government as a sovereign nation, and is governed by an elected Tribal Council.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Since time immemorial, Kumeyaay People lived idyllically in our territory that included all of San Diego County and stretched deep into Baja California. As times changed with the arrival of three waves of newcomers, we did, too. Over the last 250 years, our ancestors were forced into servitude on the Spanish Missions and on the Mexican ranchos, and were “pushed into the rocks” at the time of statehood. With a bounty on our heads and no place for us in our own homelands, our ancestors settled in a remote canyon. This space became an official reservation in 1875 under executive order by President Ulysses S. Grant.

In 1931, the city of San Diego announced its intent to reclaim the land we’d been given, in order to construct a reservoir, and acquired it through the federal government. With a federal settlement, our band purchased land nearby to establish a new reservation and maintain our sovereignty. Our band was renamed “Barona Band of Mission Indians” after the name of the Mexican land grant named for Padre Barona. Our People resettled in our new reservation in 1932.

Through seasons, decades, centuries, and the millennia, our ancestors impressed upon each successive generation the values given to us by our Creator. As the world changed, and newcomers arrived on our land, some of our ancient ways were lost but our core values remained: respect for one and all, and the importance of community, family, and taking care of each other. Through our continued successful adaptation to the ever-changing world around us we recognize the importance of and strive to revitalize our lost culture, traditions, philosophy, language, and traditional ways.

“Our Creation Story is just one piece of our ways of knowing and interpreting the world around us. Through colonization, our ways have been made foreign to us. Gathering our People and putting our stories back together is so important. We are so proud of this film, Nya’waap Illyuw Uuchyuwp—Our Way of Knowing, and it is invaluable to our People and our future generations. They must know our history and our philosophy, and it begins with our Creation Story.”

--Steve Banegas, Barona Cultural Center & Museum Committee Chair