Famous Cahuilla Indians

John Joseph Andreas (Agua Caliente Cahuilla) – Baseball player.

Juan Antonio (1783–1863) – Cahuilla name: Cooswootna, Yampoochee, (He Gets Mad Quickly), was a major chief of the Mountain Band of the Cahuilla from the 1840s to 1863.

Chief Cabezon – lived in the Thermal-Mecca region, was recognized as a leader, or Cacique, by many of the Cahuillas and was given considerable authority by the Mexicans and Americans. His nominal control extended over Indians from the desert through the San Gorgonio Pass.

Gerald Clarke – Artist and educator, Cahuilla Band of Mission Indians.

Chief Antonio Garra – Chief of the San Diego Cupeño Indians

Katherine Siva Saubel (March 7, 1920 – November 1, 2011), scholar of Indian language and culture, co-founder of the Malki Museum, and former Los Coyotes tribal chairperson.

Tahquitz – An evil (Agua Caliente Cahuilla) shaman.

Athletes:

Leroy Alvarez – Baseball player.

Lee Arenas (Agua Caliente) – Was known as a star track athlete. He is said to have once outrun a horse-drawn buckboard in an eight-mile race through the desert from the train station to Palm Springs.

Mickey Mallory – Baseball player.

John Meyers – (Santa Rosa Cahuillia) – Baseball player. Catcher for both the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Nicknamed Chief Meyers.

Philip J. “Woodchuck” Welmas (1891–1968) – Professional NFL football player in the 1920s.

Notable tribal leaders who have been honored with “Golden Palm Stars” on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars include:

Richard Milanovich – Chairman of the Agua Caliente Band (deceased)

Flora Agnes Patencio – Cahuilla Indian elder

Ray Leonard Patencio – Cahuilla Indian leader

Peter Siva – Cahuilla Tribal Chairman
Cahuilla Indian Tribes

Also see:
Mission Indians

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians

Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians

Cabazon Band of Mission Indians