Cahuilla people

The Cahuilla are North American Indians in Southern California. Your former residential area extended south of the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains, in an inland basin, which consists of desert plains and rugged canyons. Acorns and mesquite, the main food source for many Californian Indians, they found only in well-watered areas in sufficient quantities. Their language belongs to the Uto-Aztecan language family and is now almost extinct.

The Cahuilla lived in thatched huts in adobe houses or sun shelters without walls and were skilled basket makers and potters. Their social organization was patrilineal and apparently divided into two halves, Moietys that were decisive for parentage and marriages. There were also numerous groups and clans, which were assigned to specific residential areas.

At the end of the 20th century, the Cahuilla were counted over 900 descendants. After the establishment of protected areas by the U.S. authorities and the Cahuilla were assigned to seven reserves. This land they sold and built instead in recreational areas such as Palm Springs tourist attractions. Some Cahuilla have it in well-irrigated agricultural areas, such as at Salton Sea, brought to prosperity.