The Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians celebrated their rich cultural heritage on Saturday, Sept. 6, with a Séwia Kéwet fiesta at their reservation in the Santa Rosa Mountains. The event brought together tribal members and the surrounding community for a day of traditional music, dancing, food, games and crafts.
Held in the tribe’s grassy park, the festival featured colorful vendor booths offering Native items, jewelry, clothing, food, beverages and handmade goods. Guests enjoyed games and entertainment while seated beneath a thatched shade, where Bird Singers performed ancient Cahuilla songs. These rhythmic chants, accompanied by gourd rattles, are part of an oral tradition that has been passed down for generations, chronicling the history, creation, and migration of the Cahuilla People.
The Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians is a federally recognized tribe located in Riverside County, California. Their reservation, established in 1907, encompasses 11,021 acres in the Santa Rosa Mountains near the town of Anza. The tribe is composed of direct descendants from three Cahuilla clans: the Guanche-pakiktem, Costai-kiktem, and Sawish-pakiktem, who traditionally occupied areas such as Toro Peak, Coyote Canyon, and the present-day Santa Rosa Indian Reservation.
In a message shared on their official Facebook page, the tribe expressed gratitude to all who participated in the event: “Ét chúmalo (it’s finished). Séwia Kéwet 2025 is done. Huge thank you to everyone who came out to support our event, especially the Tribal members and volunteers, our admin/pw team, and those who sponsored the event. Héspen áchama.”
The Séwia Kéwet fiesta serves as a vibrant reminder of the Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians’ enduring traditions and their commitment to preserving and sharing their cultural heritage with the broader community.
Diane Sieker can be reached by email at dsieker@reedermedia.com.
