From the shadowed trails of the Indian Canyons to the lively community squares of Palm Springs, the Agua Caliente Young Adults have emerged as radiant torchbearers of Cahuilla heritage. Their presence has been a vital thread woven into the fabric of community celebrations.
In October, the youth council took center stage at the Junior Ranger Expo, held in the sacred Indian Canyons. Designed to educate children and families about local ecology and Indigenous stewardship, the event offered hands-on learning activities, wildlife walks, and traditional songs that echoed through the palms and sandstone. The Agua Caliente Young Adults volunteered as guides and educators, sharing their knowledge of native plants and tribal history. Their leadership turned a day of education into an unforgettable experience for hundreds of young visitors.
In November, they played a key role in welcoming hundreds to the Kewet Native American Learning Day & Market, a public event where song, dance, and cultural exchange illuminated the grounds of Palm Springs High School. Youth council members were seen assisting elders, greeting guests, and supporting bird singing demonstrations. One young participant captured the spirit best: “The gathering, the sharing of cultures, the UNITY of our people!”
At January’s “Singing the Birds” Bird Song & Dance Festival, the youth again showed up in force, lending support as the tribe welcomed groups from across the Southwest. Traditional singing echoed across the festival grounds, harmonizing with the voices of young leaders inspired to preserve what their elders have passed down. Tribal Chairman Reid D. Milanovich, standing among youth and elders alike, reminded attendees that “it is our generation’s responsibility to pass down the traditions to the next generation to keep the culture living.”
Each event served not just as a celebration, but as a testament to the energy and heart of the Agua Caliente youth who continue to carry their legacy forward, one beat and one dance at a time.
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Kewet Native American Learning Day & Market (Nov 16, 2024): This annual fall gathering at Palm Springs High School welcomed nearly 1,000 community members for a family-friendly day of cultural learning instagram.com. All ages enjoyed indigenous craft vendors, bird singing and dancing, and interactive demonstrations of Agua Caliente traditionsnewsfromnativecalifornia.com. The youth council helped invite the public as the tribe “shares its culture and history” with the community through this free event aguacaliente.org.
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“Singing the Birds” Bird Song & Dance Festival (Jan 25, 2025): The tribe hosted this all-day festival, drawing bird-singing groups from tribes across Southern California and the Southwest to Palm Springs indiangaming.com. Admission was free, with Native dance performances scheduled throughout the day alongside a Native American market and food vendors indiangaming.com. “It is our generation’s responsibility to pass down the traditions to the next generation to keep the culture living,” explained Tribal Chairman Reid D. Milanovich, emphasizing that the festival is an opportunity to share culture and history with neighbors indiangaming.com. Youth council members were on hand to support the event and witness elders and youth performing together.
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Junior Ranger Expo (Oct 19, 2024): In partnership with the Tribe’s Preserve, the council assisted with this outdoor event in the Indian Canyons to educate children about the land. Families explored the canyon’s wildlife and plants, listened to traditional songs “that have echoed throughout these canyons for generations,” and joined guided hikes and hands-on activitiesfamilyfriendlycv.com. The expo was free for all children, reflecting the tribe’s commitment to youth education and environmental stewardship.
Each of these festivals and events provided a platform for Agua Caliente youth to engage the public. By helping organize cultural demonstrations and welcoming attendees, the youth council played a vital role in celebrating Native heritage. “The gathering, the sharing of cultures, the UNITY of our people!” one young participant said, capturing the spirit of these community events unityinc.org.