Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians | Lake Cahuilla | Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians | Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians |
The Lugo families became strong allies with the Mountain Band of Cahuilla Indians led by Chief Juan Antonio.
Among his more significant contributions as an anthropologist, Apodaca recovered and restored once-lost recordings of traditional Agua Caliente tribal leader Joe Patencio, Alvino Siva, and others singing bird songs of Cahuilla oral literature.
To replace the New Mexicans as guardians of their herds, the Lugos brought Mountain Cahuilla tribesmen under their leader, Juan Antonio, to settle in Politana.
The National Monument legislation (introduced on February 16, 2000, by Congresswoman Mary Bono) authorized the establishment of a management plan that included cooperative agreements with existing organizations, such as that of the Cahuilla peoples and the University of California, as well as maintaining most of the historical land uses, except mining and geothermal activities.