by Regina Elling, U-T Community Press
NORTH COUNTY — Cold wind and occasional raindrops created a contrast to the welcoming and warmth of the people attending the Nov. 15 celebration after 560 acres were returned to the Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians.
The Golden Eagle Farm property, at 27236 Highway 78 between Ramona and Santa Ysabel, came back to the Mesa Grande tribe in September after a federal process that began when the tribe purchased the property in 2017.
The private celebration in the afternoon was attended by 100 members of 25 tribal councils, plus neighbors and friends with history and knowledge of the property.
The ceremony included bird songs sung in native languages by Anthony Trujillo and Manuel La Chappa, members of the Mesa Grande tribe; a buffet dinner with roasted pig; and a band to close out the evening.
“Just having our land back and having so many native tribes here, that’s the most important thing,” said Keely Linton, president of the Mesa Grande Business Development Corp. board.
Brian and Jessica Rotge have lived off Sutherland Dam Road in Ramona, near the Golden Eagle Farm property, since returning to the area two years ago after living down the hill.
“My grandmother was born in 1927 on the reservation and passed away last September. It’s a big community connection to have the land back. And it’s beautiful,” Jessica Rotge said. “And the more we expand the land, the more opportunities for more people to come back.”
The Mesa Grande tribe bought the property for about $6 million from the Mabee family — leading thoroughbred race horse breeders who created Golden Eagle Farm — with the idea of using it as an economic development venture.
“Agritourism is the biggest project we’ve been working on,” said Essence Oyos, secretary of the BDC. “We want to keep the land as natural as possible; it’s sacred land, and our ancestors subsisted there because they knew how to maintain it.”
To date, the tribe’s efforts have focused on opening an organic farm stand, growing and selling farm-to-table produce and renovating three houses on the property for vacation rentals. One house has been completed so far.
“We want to build economic development in a good way that supports the land and tribal members and make sure it is a family-friendly place that people want to come to,” Oyos said.
“To see the land go back to the rightful owners is huge and to come back is heart filling,” Quisenberry said while standing in front of her former abode, looking across the empty horse paddocks at the mountain view. “I couldn’t be happier.”
Curtis La Chusa, chairman of the Mesa Grande tribe, said he was impressed with the hard work that culminated in the Land Back process.
“It was not easy. But today, we are here to celebrate. We work today for the future,” he said.
The Golden Eagle farm store is open Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The farm also has a Night Market, which is held indoors for the season on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, beginning this week.
For more information, visit goldeneaglegardens.com.
