The Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians, a federally recognized tribe, holds a unique position in the landscape of Native American nations. Situated in Coachella, California, this band distinguishes itself as one of the smallest tribal nations in the United States. Today, the tribe’s membership is comprised of a close-knit group of family members, all related to Tribal Chairperson Mary Ann Green, who also oversees the Augustine Casino. The tribe’s history is deeply intertwined with the story of Captain Vee-Vee Augustine, born in 1820, for whom both the tribe and its reservation are named.
Tribal Identity and Nomenclature
The Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians identify themselves as Iviatim in their native language, Ivia. The term "Cahuilla," however, was bestowed upon them by outsiders following the secularization of missions in the Ranchos of California. This adopted name, "Cahuilla," is believed to originate from the Ivia word kawi’a, which translates to "master," "the powerful one," or "the one who rules." Throughout history, the tribe has also been known as the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians of the Augustine Reservation.
Location and Traditional Territory
The ancestral lands of the Cahuilla people encompass the Coachella Valley and the surrounding mountains of California. Archaeological evidence suggests that they have inhabited this region for over 3,000 years, making them the first known inhabitants of the Coachella Valley. This region, characterized by its arid desert climate and mountainous terrain, has shaped the Cahuilla culture and traditions for millennia.
Governmental Structure and Contact Information
The Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians maintains a tribal government with executive offices located in Coachella, California. The tribe’s official address is 84-481 Avenue 54, P.O. Box 846, Coachella, California 92236. They can be contacted by phone at (760) 398-4722 or by fax at (760) 369-7161. Additional information about the tribe can be found on their official website: http://www.augustinetribe.org.
Reservation and Land
The Augustine Reservation was formally established by an act of Congress on December 29, 1891. This marked a significant step in recognizing the tribe’s sovereignty and providing a designated area for their community. The tribal headquarters are located in Coachella, California, placing the tribe in the heart of their ancestral territory.
Population Dynamics and History
The Cahuilla population experienced significant fluctuations throughout history. In the late 1700s, it was estimated to be around 6,000, although some Cahuilla believe the number was closer to 15,000. By the mid-1800s, records indicated the existence of twenty-two villages. However, by 1951, only eleven survivors were known. A particularly poignant moment in the tribe’s history occurred in 1972 when Roberta Augustine was recognized as the last surviving adult member. Roberta had three children: Mary Ann, Herbert, and Gregory. Roberta passed away in 1987.
Today, the descendants of Roberta Augustine form the Tribal Government of the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians. Mary Ann, the great-great-granddaughter of Captain Vee-Vee Augustine, serves as the elected Tribal Chairperson. The official members of the Tribe consist of Mary Ann and her descendants, along with the children of her two brothers.
Linguistic Heritage
The Cahuilla language belongs to the Takic branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family. Within Takic, it shares the closest linguistic ties with Cupeño, Juaneño, and Luiseño, and more distant connections with Gabrielino, Kitanemuk, Serrano, and Tataviam. The Uto-Aztecan language family’s ancestral homeland is believed to be in present-day Nevada. Like other desert tribes, the Cahuilla share a common ancestry with the Uto-Aztecan family and the Cahuilla linguistic group.
Historically, three Cahuilla dialects were spoken: Desert Cahuilla, Mountain Cahuilla, and Pass Cahuilla. The Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians traditionally spoke the Desert Cahuilla dialect. However, the Cahuilla language is nearing extinction, with a 1990 census revealing only 35 speakers within an ethnic population of 800. Most of these speakers are middle-aged or older.
The Cahuilla language was traditionally spoken in the San Gorgonio Pass, the Coachella Valley, and the western slopes of the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains. In pre-contact times, there were approximately 2,500 speakers of Cahuilla. Today, only a handful of first-language speakers remain.
Cultural Organization and Social Structure
The Cahuilla people were traditionally divided into three geographical groups: Desert Cahuilla, Mountain Cahuilla, and Western (San Gorgonio Pass) Cahuilla. While each group spoke the Cahuilla language and shared similar lifestyles and traditions, they occupied distinct regions. The Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians are Desert Cahuilla, one of nine Cahuilla Indian nations residing on ten Indian reservations. The Cahuilla were also divided into two moieties: Wildcat and Coyote, reflecting a dualistic social organization.
Art, Crafts, and Traditional Life
Cahuilla women were renowned for their basket-making skills, creating intricate baskets known as nèat. These baskets were crafted from grass using twining or coiling techniques and adorned with colors such as dark yellow, rich red, white, and black. The designs often featured flowers, eagles, lightning, and whirlwinds. In earlier times, these baskets served multiple purposes, including storing, sifting, and carrying food, carrying babies, roasting seeds, and even cooking. Cahuilla women could weave baskets so tightly that they could hold water. When used for cooking, the baskets were filled with water and heated with hot rocks.
The introduction of metal by Europeans gradually diminished the need for Cahuilla baskets. However, as more people moved to the Coachella Valley, art collectors began to appreciate the artistry and skill involved in creating traditional Cahuilla baskets, leading to a resurgence in demand.
Subsistence and Resource Management
Historically, the Cahuilla established villages near dense forests of honey mesquite trees, recognizing the importance of this plant to their survival. The mesquite tree provided a valuable food source, construction material, and habitat for game animals.
Mesquite trees produced edible blossoms in June and seed pods in July and August. The blossoms were roasted or sun-dried and used to make a refreshing beverage. The pods were eaten fresh or mashed into a creamy juice. The honey mesquite beans were dried and eaten immediately or ground into flour for later use. The ground powder was formed into cakes that could be consumed as a drink, porridge, or dry.
Plant foods, particularly the mesquite bean, formed the cornerstone of the Cahuilla diet. In addition to food, plants provided materials for shelter, clothing, and tools. Cahuilla women were responsible for gathering plant resources, with each village designated its own gathering area.
Hunting and trapping animals also played a crucial role in the Cahuilla diet. Cahuilla men hunted big game animals, such as deer and mountain sheep, in the Little San Bernardino Mountains and the Santa Rosa Mountains. Small game animals, particularly rabbits, were hunted in the valley floor.
The Desert Cahuilla would make seasonal trips to the Santa Rosa Mountains to visit the Mountain Cahuilla, exchanging gifts of mesquite meal, roasted agave, and piñon nuts.
The Desert Cahuilla were among the few American Indian tribes to dig their own water wells, called temakawomal or "earth olla." These hand-dug wells descended into the earth in a series of stair-steps, providing access to the water table.
Economic Development and the Augustine Casino
The Tribal Government of the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians has implemented a comprehensive economic development program to ensure the tribe’s economic future and preserve its culture. This program includes an analysis of the reservation’s economic potential, the adoption of a zoning code, and the construction of the Augustine Casino in 2002.
The casino serves as the economic engine that enables the Augustine Band to pursue its goal of cultural self-sufficiency. Located adjacent to Indio, the casino features slot machines, progressive jackpots, poker, single and Spanish 21, restaurants, live entertainment, and promotions.
Recent History and Re-emergence
The recent history of the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians begins with Roberta Augustine, born in 1937. Her daughter, MaryAnn Martin, the current Tribal Chairperson, was born in 1964. In 1986, the tribe lost its sole remaining member when Roberta Augustine passed away.
After Roberta Augustine’s death, her granddaughter, Maryann Martin, learned about her Augustine heritage and moved back onto the reservation with her three children. After her two brothers were killed, Martin acquired custody of their four children as well. This extended family now comprises the entire Augustine Tribe.
Maryann Martin’s decision to embrace her Indian roots marked a new beginning for the Augustine Band. She was elected Tribal Chairperson in 1988, re-established a Tribal Government in 1994, and resettled the Reservation in 1996.