Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeño Indians of the Los Coyotes Reservation is a federally recognized tribe of Cahuilla and Cupeño Indians, who were Mission Indians located in California.[4]
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 Reservation (33°17′52″N 116°33′22″W / 33.29778°N 116.55611°W) is located in northeastern San Diego County.[4] Of 400 enrolled tribal members, about 150 live on the reservation.[1] It was founded in 1889.[3]
Their reservation is the largest in San Diego County. An 80-mile (130 km) drive from San Diego, the land is located between Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and the Cleveland National Forest.[1] Hot Springs Mountain is located within the boundaries of the reservation with an elevation of 6,533 ft. Campgrounds are open to the public for a nominal entry fee.
Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeño Indians is headquartered in Warner Springs, California. It is governed by a democratically elected tribal council. Its current tribal spokesperson is Ray Chapparosa.[5]
The Cahuilla and Cupeño languages are closely related and are part of the Takic language family. The Cupeño and Cahuilla languages are 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]