Cahuilla Nation

From creation time into the 21st century, the social, political, religious, and economic organization of the Cahuilla people has been based on movement and migration. One of the largest groups of original people of southern California, the Cahuilla moved on a seasonal basis among winter, summer, and spring homes, gathering the available and managed foods while also hunting and visiting with kin and friends. The people migrated from one destination to the next continuing their socioreligious practices and the lifeways given to them by their creator, Mukat, at creation time. The Cahuilla managed a large territory, living in the deserts, mountains, and mountain passes of southern California. In addition to migrating through their lands procuring food and materials for tools, the Cahuilla traded and interacted extensively with other indigenous nations, intermarrying to maintain social and economic relationships. Yet the Cahuilla nation experienced significant changes after 1846. Having adjusted to the influences of the Spanish mission system in the 1770s–1830s, the war with Mexico and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ushered in a new era of American invasion. This invasion had a severe impact on the Cahuilla population, health, lifeway, and economy, disrupting a migratory life cycle that had endured since creation. In spite of the disruptions, the Cahuilla survived the violent invasion and adapted to the new European economies while maintaining their migratory nature.

The Cahuilla story of genesis and tradition of bird singing describes the Cahuilla migrations and movement since creation time. The Cahuilla began their migrations as their creator, Mukat, provided laws that guided their social, religious, economic, and political practices, which directed their movements into the 19th century. In the beginning, during the time of “vast darkness,” the two primordial beings of the Cahuilla, Tukmiat, the night, and Amnaha, the greatness of all things, attempted three times to create the first beings. On the third trial, they succeeded in creating the twin god brothers, Mukat and Tamaioit, who quarreled over which was the eldest. The brothers each created the first beings, the first a race of people, or Mukitum, and then humans. Mukat created the superior of the beings, winning the quarrel, so Tamaioit migrated to the underworld, taking his creations with him. Mukat provided for the Cahuilla people all they needed to survive, including instructions and tools to live, and the social structure and laws to govern the people. Mukat also caused hardship, and so some people conspired to kill him through poisoning or “witching.” Upon his death, the people performed funerary rights and burned his body, from which sprang foods and medicines, such as the tobacco plant he gifted to the people. Though Mukat died and his brother, Tamaioit, migrated away, their influence remains. Spirit bestowed the Kishamnawhet, or ceremonial house, where he explained his spirit would dwell and instructed them to perform ceremonies.

Upon the death of Mukat, the people were lost and began to disperse, embarking on their initial migrations, which would take them to their lands in present-day southern California. Movement throughout their [Page 102]territory is a central theme of Cahuilla history, culture, and lifeway. A ceremonial leader picked up the ceremonial headdress and staff and instructed the first people to journey until they found the place they should settle.

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