Cahuilla

The Cahuilla are a tribe of Native Americans that have inhabited California for more than 2000 years, originally covering an area of about 2,400 square miles (6,200 km²).

Related Topics:
Native American - California

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Evidence shows that when the Cahuilla first moved into the area a large body of water now called Lake Cahuilla was in existence, which confirms oral legends. Fed by the Colorado River, it dried up sometime before 1600 when the river changed course. In 1905 a break in a levee created the much smaller Salton Sea in the same location.

Related Topics:
Lake Cahuilla - Colorado River - 1600 - 1905 - Salton Sea

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The Cahuilla are divided into Mountain, Desert and Pass Cahuillas. There are 9 reservations in Southern California; Cahuilla, Agua Caliente, Santa Rosa, Torres-Martinez, Cabeson, Morongo, Los Coyotes, Ramona, and Saboba.

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Their language is of the Uto-Aztecan family. A 1990 census revealed 35 speakers in an ethnic population of 800. It is nearly extinct, since most speakers are middle-aged or older.

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