PALM SPRINGS, CA – Friends of the Desert Mountains (Friends) with the help of the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy recently returned 417 acres of unceded land to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, a federally recognized Tribe, comprised of 280 acres, which were a donation and 137 acres were purchased by the Tribe from Friends.

“Preservation of our homelands is essential to maintaining our cultural heritage,” said Tribal Chairman Reid D. Milanovich of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. “The thousands of years of knowledge and ancient wisdom held within these lands is integral to the identity of our Tribe.”

The 280-acre parcel being donated was originally purchased by the Friends to protect palm oases and fragile cultural resources near Palm Canyon for conservation purposes. The 137-acres purchased by the Tribe are scattered across the San Jacinto Mountain range above the Indian Canyons within the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation and were acquired by Friends over a period of years.

Friends’ mission is to acquire land with high conservation value from willing sellers to conserve in perpetuity.

“And, who better to care for these lands than the original stewards who have been doing so since time immemorial,” said Tammy Martin, Friends Executive Director, referring to the land recently returned to the Tribe.

“The Conservancy is delighted to help bring about the transfer of this culturally and environmentally sensitive land to the Tribe,” said Jim Karpiak, the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy’s Executive Director.

###

About Friends of the Desert Mountains

Friends of the Desert Mountains connects people to the land through conservation, education, and research, and is the official non-profit partner with the Bureau of Land Management, caring for the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. Since 1987, Friends has conserved over 63,000 acres of land and helped establish the National Monument Friends’ educational programs and volunteer-led hikes introduce thousands of locals, visitors, and young people to the wonders of the desert every year.

About Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is a federally recognized Indian Tribe located in Palm Springs, California, with reservation lands, which include portions of Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage and portions of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains. For more information about the Tribe, visit: www.aguacaliente-nsn.gov.