Against All Odds: How desert tribes shape modern Coachella Valley

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) - Most residents in the Southern California desert can probably tell you that the seven casinos in the Coachella Valley are owned by different Native American tribes. But they might not be able to tell you more than that.

The history and force of these tribes helped shape the Coachella Valley, including its current economic power. But the tribes' recent prosperity is fairly new — built on pain suffered over the past 100 years. These casinos — run by various bands of the Cahuilla and Mission Indian tribes -- are one of the most powerful economic forces in the desert — employing thousands of locals and bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars in tourism and economic activity.

But all of this is fairly recent. Just about 30 years ago, none of this existed.

Forced onto reservations in the 1800s — tribes across America have struggled since — with the highest poverty rate of any minority group.

"Our tribe was placed on a reservation. It wasn't allowed to do what it was doing for generations," said Amanda Augustine, the Chairwoman of the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians.

"It took away our identity. Even to this day, we're still struggling to maintain what we have," said Michael Mirelez, a lineal descendant of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians.

The Cahuilla tribe made their home thousands of years ago in the Coachella Valley area — and today, they're grouped into 9 bands: the Mountain Cahuilla — the Pass Cahuilla, which includes the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians — and the Desert Cahuilla — whom we know best — as the Torres Martinez — Augustine -- and Cabazon. Their homes would be forever changed as white settlers and the U.S. government seized California land through the Westward Expansion.

In the 1850s — the U.S. government divided up Coachella Valley land into a checkerboard pattern and gave land to the Southern Pacific Railroad.

In 1876 -- some of these parcels were designated as Indian land. In an attempt to create division within the Cahuilla people, the government gave Agua Caliente the largest portion -- and what turned out to be prime real estate.

In 1892, children from various tribes were forced into Indian boarding schools -- like Sherman Institute in Riverside -- required to speak only in English and to celebrate Christian traditions. Many children were abused, and at least 500 died, with the end goal of erasing their Native cultures and tongue, according to a 2022 Department of the Interior report.

"There are very few people that remember, and so for ourselves, the struggle is to maintain that," said Mirelez.

For the past century — tribes have struggled to keep their culture and language alive, through bird songs and the oral histories of their people. These songs echo through time -- preserving the spirit of the people -- even as another rhythm has come and along with it — heartbreak.

I asked — why so many Native Americans have Hispanic or Anglo names.

"It was part of assimilation. The old people felt that by giving their children names that were Hispanic, it would make life easier for them," said Mirelez.

The battle over identity — the names sacrificed — just to survive in the world.How could tribes thrive after having so much taken away?

In this, our local Cabazon band holds a significant place in history.

"The tribe was really pursuing economic development. It grew out of a lot of, frankly, just racism and discrimination," said Arkamez Blankenship, the Director of Cultural Affairs, Cabazon Band of Cahuilla Indians. "It was nearly impossible for tribal members to gain employment or even become entrepreneurs without developing something on the reservation."

So in the early 1980s, they started gaming on their land. But with it came trouble.

 "The police showed up, guns blazing, tried to lock down the bingo hall, and the tribe fought against it and fought against it over and over and over again. Kept reopening, kept fighting against the state of California, Riverside County police and sheriffs," said Blankenship.

In the end — it was the California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians decision in 1987 that paved the way for legalized gaming across the U.S. -- changing Coachella Valley's economy into what it is today through entertainment and gaming at large casinos like Fantasy Springs.

SOT2:49We're one of the largest employers in the Valley. I believe we employ around 1,100 employees. Most of them are from the Valley," said Doug Welmas, the Chairman of the Cabazon Band of Cahuilla Indians.

Torres Martinez with Red Earth Casino and gas station employs around 260 people, while Agua Caliente casinos — in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, and Rancho Mirage — employ about 2-thousand 200 locals.

The Coachella Valley would not be what it is today without the tribes. And while it's easy to reduce the tribes to just gaming — they say it's important to remember they're doing the most they can in a system they've been forced into.

"I think we will always be stuck in the past," said Augustine. "It's the trauma that's not addressed. How can you move forward?"

In the process of reporting this story it became apparent that tribal politics — both within and between each band — was complicated and sensitive -- and tribal members were often afraid of saying the wrong thing.

As you may have noticed, the Agua Caliente tribal chairman was not part of this story.

After months of asking — News Channel 3 was promised an interview with the new chairman in September but it was cancelled. It has now been rescheduled for October.

In part 2 of "Against All Odds," morning anchor Angela Chen introduces a woman who became the last of her people here in the desert — and her mission to not let her people become lost to history.