Neighbors of the Cahuilla

We are part of the Peace & Justice Ministry of St. Margaret’s called to explore the history of our Native American Cahuilla neighbors and to promote meaningful engagement where possible.

• We wish to recognize and honor contemporary Cahuilla people as our neighbors and to support the visibility of native culture locally.
• We wish to recognize the part we and our Episcopal institutions have played in white decimation of indigenous tribes and culture.
• We wish to make a step toward healing where possible by investing in material support of local tribes. 
• We wish to recognize that St. Margaret's Episcopal Church sits upon the ancestral lands of the Cahuilla and to hold a public and visible ceremony of Land Acknowledgement. 

Join us in expanding our outreach to our Cahuilla neighbors with presence at local tribal events as we build meaningful relationships. Noticing local Cahuilla as our neighbors is a first step in moving beyond enabling cultural erasure. Join us as we grow ourselves in awareness and our ministry in action.

Land Acknowledgement

St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church is on the ancestral lands of the Cahuilla Tribes of the Coachella Valley.
 We acknowledge with respect the Cahuilla people as the Original Peoples of this land.
We lament the history of colonization, dispossession and cultural degradation which the Cahuilla Tribes and all indigenous peoples have endured.
We honor the dignity of all Cahuilla people past and present, and seek to restore just relationships between our peoples.
We share with the Cahuilla our appreciation of the beauty and bounty of this land and pledge to care for it.

More Information and Resources

Read the Resolution from the Episcopal Church's 76th General Convention:
Acts of Convention Resolution # ​2009-D035; Title: Repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery

​Read a Pastoral Letter from Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori:
​A Pastoral Letter regarding the Doctrine of Discovery
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​The Office of Indigenous Ministries celebrates the longstanding presence and influence of Native Americans throughout the history of The Episcopal Church. Learn More

Learn, discover, experience and explore the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation. Learn More

The Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery calls on the Christian Church to address the extinction, enslavement, and extraction done in the name of Christ on Indigenous Lands. Learn More

Learn about the Morongo Band of Mission Indians' unique ability to adapt to economic barriers through a persistent and resourceful nature. Learn More

The Cahuilla Band of Mission Indians have long resided in Southern California. Learn More

The World Council of Churches has made a statement on the doctrine of discovery and its enduring impact on Indigenous Peoples. Learn More

Cahuilla Land in the Coachella Valley