A short history of the Cahuilla Indians:

Cahuilla (pronounced Kah-we-ah) means "masters" or "powerful one" and 2,500 years ago these fiercely resourceful people learned to survive the blistering temperatures of the dry, unyielding land by digging wells. They devised creative methods for using local plant life such as acorns, mesquite and pinyon. And they built their homes (known as a kish) from reeds, branches and brush.

The Cahuilla were divided into two moieties or groups of clans: the Wildcat and Coyote. They were further divided into approximately a dozen patrilineal clans, each having its own name, territory and common ancestry.

In addition to the Cabazon Band, other Cahuilla tribes in Southern California are the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in Palm Springs, the Augustine Band of Mission Indians near Coachella, the Cahuilla Band of Mission Indians and Ramona Band of Mission Indians near Anza, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians near Banning, the Santa Rosa Band of Mission Indians near Hemet, the Los Coyotes Indians near Warner Springs and the Torres-Martinez Band of Desert Cahuilla near Thermal.

Cahuilla baskets evidence the artistry and love of beauty by these peace-loving people. Designs taken from nature, such as animals, birds, clouds and lightning were produced from varying shades of the rush. But perhaps the most common means of aesthetic expression was music. Tribal history was recorded in songs.

In the 1850s, the Cahuilla population began to dwindle. The Southern Pacific Railroad laid claim to local water rights, resulting in poor crops and forcing Cahuilla to move many times.

Along with other California cultures, the Cahuilla produced the best basketry in the world. This art form, which flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was almost lost. But it has recently been revived, especially in association with the tribally controlled Malki Museum on the Morongo Reservation