The Renaming of Múmawet Hill
On February 16th, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians hosted a dedication event along with the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve to celebrate and discuss the renaming of one of a hill within the preserve that was traditionally a home to Cahuilla people. Before being renamed Múmawet Hill (“Great Hill” in the Cahuilla language), the important location had a derogatory name that was deeply disrespectful to Cahuilla people and in no way reflected the importance and power of the area. Jenny Short, the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve Manager, reached out to Agua Caliente’s Chairman, Reid Milanovich, in hopes of working with the tribe to rename the hill as well as to return artifacts that had been found where an ancient Cahuilla visit once sat. Jenny Short calls the renaming a “restoration of rightful dignity,” and expresses her thanks to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians for helping her learn throughout the renaming process.
“It was an educational experience I will always value,” she says truthfully, thanking Chairman Milanovich for their correspondence.
Congressman Raul Ruiz was also in attendance at this “historical celebration” as he calls it, and gave a heartfelt speech about the importance of honoring Múmawet Hill and all Native lands with respect and acknowledgment of their original caretakers. He also reflected on bringing his daughters to hike in the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve and compared his experience with his family to those of the Cahuilla families who lived here a couple hundred years ago.
“This was Indian land, this is Indian land, and this will always be Indian land,” Congressman Ruiz says, “and the caretakers of this land are owed and due respect.”
Preserve Manager, Jenny Short, then announces that two Cahuilla artifacts were found by Preserve guests who trespassed off the trail and that she would like to take this time to officially return them to the Agua Caliente tribe. One of the artifacts is a large clay olla that was dug up off the trail. The audience audibly gasps as she motions to the pot, still fully intact and only sporting a small crack in its otherwise perfect form. It’s an interesting moment; watching repatriation, something that often happens behind the closed doors of various institutions, happen in real time. Many of the event attendees are Agua Caliente Tribal Members, and being able to see important artifacts returned to their people is monumental.
“I’m happy to be here today,” Chairman Milanovich says, “This name change is paying respect to our culture, our traditions, and our people.”
After a final thanks from the speakers, the event attendees are able to view the artifacts, explore the preserve, and most importantly, spend time on Múmawet Hill. The short hike to the top of Múmawet Hill ends with an incredible view of the preserve, the people still gathered in the event space, and the land extending out from the oasis. As we enjoy ourselves on this powerful day, traditional Bird Singers and Dancers sing and dance, Múmawet Hill looking down on them in the foreground.
