PeopleGroups Initiative

People Group Profiles

“All nations will come and worship before you."

- Revelations 15:4

Luiseno of United States

People Group Info

Total Population: 4,980

ROP3 Code: 105916
IMB Affinity Group: American Peoples
Affinity Bloc: North American Peoples
People Cluster: North American Indigenous
Language: English - (eng)
Religion: Ethnic Religions
Country of Origin: United States

Photo courtesy of PeopleGroups.info

Majority Located Where

San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA - 3,090

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA - 1,890

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Brief Profile

The Luiseno are a Native American people group in Southern California consisting of seven bands Luiseno tribes. Six have received federal recognition including the Pechanga, La Jolla, Pauma, Soboba, Rincon, Pala. The seventh band, San Luis Rey, has not received federal recognition.

They call themselves Payómkawichum, also spelled Payómkowishum, meaning "People of the West." Only about 30 people still speak their language, Luiseno. However, some bands are seeking to revitalize and preserve the language. They also speak English and many also speak Spanish.

Traditionally, they were mystics, and had a conception of a great, all-powerful, avenging god, which was uncommon for Native American peoples. Hence, the majority adhere to traditional tribal religion and many have easily accepted Roman Catholicism.

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Prayer Points

Pray God will send people to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of the Luiseno people.
Pray God will remove social, cultural, and religious barriers that prevent Luiseno from understanding and accepting God's grace as revealed through the one and only mediator, Jesus Christ.
Pray God will work via dreams and other means to reveal the truth found in the message of Jesus Christ alone.

People Group Resources

Native Americans - Worldview and Trends
Learn about Native Americans, their Worldview and Trends.

Learning Resources

Learn more about "Learning Paths"
Online Courses for embracing, encountering and engaging diaspora people. Work at your own pace. Begin anytime and complete the course according to your schedule. Interactive, Hands-On Application.

Learn more about "Reaching the Nations"
This book delineates five disciplines Christians should develop in order to effectively reach the nations. More specifically, it will guide Christians to develop an engagement strategy in their locale.

World Religions - Beliefs Overview
An overview of major world religions and cults - their beliefs and practices.

Other Resources

Know God in 98 Languages
A CRU resource with 9 different witnessing models (e.g. 4 Spiritual Laws, etc.) in 98 languages.

Prayer Guide for Unreached Peoples
A 30 day guide to pray for unreached people groups.

Online Talking Bible - English
The purpose of Talking Bibles is to give non-readers and the blind access to the Bible in their native language.

Prayer Guide using the GOSPELS acronym
A prayer guide that utilizes the acronym GOSPELS to pray for workers among diaspora.

Displaying 1-6 of 6 results.

Country	City	Metro Area Name	State / Prov.	Baseline Population

United States	Pala	San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos	CA	1,573
United States	Temecula	Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario	CA	1,370
United States	La Jolla	San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos	CA	700
United States	Rincon	San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos	CA	631
United States	Soboba	Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario	CA	520
United States	Pauma Valley	San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos	CA	186