Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians

Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians
Total population
288[1]
Regions with significant populations
United States ( California)
Languages

English, Cahuilla language[2]

Religion

traditional tribal religion,
Christianity (Roman Catholicism)[3]

Related ethnic groups

other Cahuilla and Cupeño tribes

Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians of the Los Coyotes Reservation is a federally recognized tribe of Cahuilla and Cupeño Indians, who are Mission Indians located in California.[4]

Contents

Reservation

Los Coyotes Reservation is located in northeastern San Diego County.[4] Of 288 enrolled tribal members, about 74 live on the reservation.[1] It was founded in 1889.[3]

Their reservation is the largest in San Diego County. Located 80 miles north of San Diego, the land sits between Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and the Cleveland National Forest.[1]

Government

Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians is headquartered in Warner Springs, California. They are governed by a democratically elected tribal council. Their current tribal spokesperson is Shane Chapparosa.[5]

Language

The Cahuilla and Cupeño languages are closely related and are part of the Takic language family. Cupeño is considered extinct, while Cahuilla is endangered. Alvino Siva, an enrolled tribal member and a fluent Cahuilla language speaker, died on June 26, 2009. He preserved the tribe's traditional bird songs, sung in the Cahuilla language, by teaching them to younger generations of Cahuilla people.[6]

Notable tribal members

Notes

  1. ^ a b c "Los Coyotes Indian Reservation." Kuumeyaay Information Village. (retrieved 17 May 2010)
  2. ^ Eargle, 111
  3. ^ a b Pritzker, 120
  4. ^ a b California Indians and Their Reservations. San Diego State University Library and Information Access. 2010 (retrieved 17 May 2010)
  5. ^ "Tribal Governments by Area." National Congress of American Indians. (retrieved 12 May 2010)
  6. ^ Waldner, Erin. "Cahuilla elder, one of last fluent in language, dies." The Press-Enterprise. 9 July 2009 (retrieved 17 May 2010)

References