Morongo Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians
Encyclopedia
The Morongo Band of Mission Indians is a federally recognized tribe. The main tribal groups are Cahuilla
and Serrano
. Other lineages include Cupeño
and Luiseño Indians,. Although many tribes in California are known as Mission Indians
, some, like those at Morongo, were never a part of the Spanish Missions in California
. The Morongo Reservation is located in Riverside County, California
.
and San Jacinto Mountains
. It is over 35000 acres (141.6 km²) in size. On May 15, 1876, President Ulysses S. Grant
established this and eight other reservations in the area by executive order. Approximately 954 of the 996 enrolled tribal members live on the reservation.
. They are governed by a democratically elected tribal council. Their current administration is as follows:
and Serrano
are Takic languages
, part of the Uto-Aztecan language family. Cahuilla and Serrano are technically considered to be extinct as they are no longer spoken at home, and children are no longer learning them.. The last speaker of Pass Cahuilla died in 2008. The last speaker of Serrano died in 2002.
The tribe opened a small bingo hall in 1983, which became the foundation of what is now one of the oldest Native gaming enterprises in California. The government of Riverside County, California attempted to shut down the bingo hall, so the tribe joined together with the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians
to fight the county all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. On February 25, 1987, the Court upheld the right of sovereign Indian tribes to operate gaming enterprises on their reservations.
The Morongo Casino, Resort, and Spa was opened in 2004 in Cabazon, California
. It is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The hotel has 310 rooms. Several restaurants and bars are part of the complex, Desert Orchid: Contemporary Asian Cuisine, Potrero Canyon Buffet, Cielo: Pacific Coast Steak and Seafood Restaurant, Serrano, Sunset Bar and Grill, a food court, Mystique Lounge, and the Pit Bar. The club, 360, is open on weekends.
Cahuilla
The Cahuilla, Iviatim in their own language, are Indians with a common culture whose ancestors inhabited inland areas of southern California 2,000 years ago. Their original territory included an area of about . The traditional Cahuilla territory was near the geographic center of Southern California...
and Serrano
Serrano (people)
The Serrano are a Native American tribe of present day California, United States. They use the autonyms of Taaqtam, meaning "people"; Maarenga'yam, "people from Morongo"; and Yuhaviatam, "people of the pines." The Serrano historically populated the San Bernardino Mountains and extended east into...
. Other lineages include Cupeño
Cupeño
The Cupeño are a Native American tribe from Southern California. Their name in their own language is Kuupangaxwichem.They traditionally lived about inland and north of the modern day U.S.-Mexico border in the Peninsular Range of Southern California...
and Luiseño Indians,. Although many tribes in California are known as Mission Indians
Mission Indians
Mission Indians is a term for many Native California tribes, primarily living in coastal plains, adjacent inland valleys and mountains, and on the Channel Islands in central and southern California, United States. The tribes had established comparatively peaceful cultures varying from 250 to 8,000...
, some, like those at Morongo, were never a part of the Spanish Missions in California
Spanish missions in California
The Spanish missions in California comprise a series of religious and military outposts established by Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order between 1769 and 1823 to spread the Christian faith among the local Native Americans. The missions represented the first major effort by Europeans to...
. The Morongo Reservation is located in Riverside County, California
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
.
Reservation
The Morongo Reservation is located at the base of the San GorgonioSan Gorgonio Mountain
San Gorgonio Mountain, also known locally as Mount San Gorgonio, or Old Greyback, is the highest peak in Southern California at . It is in the San Bernardino Mountains, east of the city of San Bernardino and north-northeast of San Gorgonio Pass. It lies within the San Gorgonio Wilderness, part of...
and San Jacinto Mountains
San Jacinto Mountains
The San Jacinto Mountains are a mountain range east of Los Angeles in southern California in the United States. The mountains are named for Saint Hyacinth . The Pacific Crest Trail runs along the spine of the range.The range extends for approximately from the San Bernardino Mountains southeast to...
. It is over 35000 acres (141.6 km²) in size. On May 15, 1876, President Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
established this and eight other reservations in the area by executive order. Approximately 954 of the 996 enrolled tribal members live on the reservation.
Government
The Morongo Band of Mission Indians is headquartered in Banning, CaliforniaBanning, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Banning had a population of 29,603. The population density was 1,281.6 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Banning was 19,164 White, 2,165 African American, 641 Native American, 1,549 Asian, 39 Pacific Islander, 4,604 from other...
. They are governed by a democratically elected tribal council. Their current administration is as follows:
- Robert Martin, Chairman
- Maurice Lyons, Vice-Chairman
- Charles Martin, Councilmember
- Elaine Mathews, Councilmember
- Dennis Miller, Councilmember
- Mary Ann Martin-Andreas, Councilmember
- Damon Sandoval, Councilmember
Languages
CahuillaCahuilla language
Cahuilla is an endangered Uto-Aztecan language, spoken by the Cahuilla tribe, living in the Coachella Valley, San Gorgonio Pass and San Jacinto Mountain region of Southern California. Cahuilla call themselves Iviatam, speakers of 'Ivia' - the 'original' language. A 1990 census revealed 35 speakers...
and Serrano
Serrano language
The Serrano language is a language in the Takic branch of the Uto-Aztecan family spoken by the Serrano people of Southern California. The language is closely related to Tongva and Kitanemuk....
are Takic languages
Takic languages
The Takic languages are a group of Uto-Aztecan languages spoken by Californian Native Americans in southern California.-List of Takic languages:*Cahuilla language*Cupeño language*Luiseño language*Serrano language*Tongva language*?Tataviam language...
, part of the Uto-Aztecan language family. Cahuilla and Serrano are technically considered to be extinct as they are no longer spoken at home, and children are no longer learning them.. The last speaker of Pass Cahuilla died in 2008. The last speaker of Serrano died in 2002.
Economic development
Cabazon Band of Mission Indians
The Cabazon Band of Mission Indians is a federally recognized tribe of Cahuilla Indians, located in Riverside County, California.-Reservation:The Cabazon Indian Reservation was founded in 1876. It occupies located seven miles from Indio, California and from Palm Springs...
to fight the county all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. On February 25, 1987, the Court upheld the right of sovereign Indian tribes to operate gaming enterprises on their reservations.
The Morongo Casino, Resort, and Spa was opened in 2004 in Cabazon, California
Cabazon, California
Cabazon is a census-designated place in Riverside County, California, United States. The population was 2,535 at the 2010 census, up from 2,229 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. It is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The hotel has 310 rooms. Several restaurants and bars are part of the complex, Desert Orchid: Contemporary Asian Cuisine, Potrero Canyon Buffet, Cielo: Pacific Coast Steak and Seafood Restaurant, Serrano, Sunset Bar and Grill, a food court, Mystique Lounge, and the Pit Bar. The club, 360, is open on weekends.
External links
- Morongo Band of Mission Indians, official website
- Malki Museum, Morongo tribal museum in Banning
- The Limu Project language and cultural revitalization