Reid D. Milanovich at the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians headquarters.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRUCE FEAGLE
Reid D. Milanovich has served on the Tribal Council of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians since 2014 and as Tribal Chairman since 2022.
The federally recognized tribe, which has more than 520 members, is one of the largest employers in the Coachella Valley. The Tribe maintains strong government-to-government relationships with leaders at the city, county, state, and national levels.
The Agua Caliente Indian Reservation extends from Palm Springs through Cathedral City to Rancho Mirage and includes areas of unincorporated Riverside County. The Tribe’s enterprises include the Agua Caliente Casinos in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, and Rancho Mirage, as well as the Sunstone Spa, The Show (entertainment venue), the Indian Canyons Golf Resort, a variety of restaurants, retail, and even Agua Caliente Fuel, an elevated fuel station and convenience store.
Building upon the traditions of the Agua Caliente people and the world-renowned natural features of their ancestral lands, the opening of the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza is one of the most important projects the Tribe has built. The Cultural Plaza in downtown Palm Springs features The Spa at Séc-he and the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum. The museum features a digital animation of the Tribe’s creation story and showcases its vast collection of Cahuilla artifacts.
“The spa is situated on the sacred site of the tribe’s ancient Hot Mineral Spring,” Milanovich shares, “and it welcomes visitors to come soak in the healing water just like we have for thousands of years.”
“The Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza provides an incredible opportunity for us to share and celebrate our history, culture, and traditions with this community and visitors from around the world,” Chairman Milanovich says. “For us, it’s a dream come true that has been in the making for more than three decades. When we share our culture, it helps preserve our culture.”