cultural heritage

Greater Palm Springs history dates back long before the arrival of the steam engine. Some archaeological evidence suggests the first Native people have resided in the area for more than 8,000 years.

Today, five tribes representing two major Native cultural groups make their home in the nine-city area that comprises Greater Palm Springs. Those tribes are:

• Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
• Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians
• Cabazon Band of Mission Indians
• Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians 
• Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians

Five other federally recognized tribes of the Cahuilla people that occupy land from Thermal to Banning to Anza include: Cahuilla Band of Mission Indians of the Cahuilla Reservation, Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians of the Los Coyotes Reservation, Morongo Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians of the Morongo Reservation, Ramona Band of Cahuilla, and Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians.