On Wednesday, March 24 at 7:30pm, guest lecturer Michael Contreras Jr. will give a presentation, “History of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians,” at the San Bernardino County Museum. This lecture is open to public and free of charge.

            Contreras will talk about the general history of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and the surrounding tribal community. He will discuss the Cahuilla and Serrano, traditional tribal territories compared to today’s reservations; the reservation system; detrimental policies in the U.S. history; the assimilation era and loss of culture; tribal sovereignty; and the struggle to maintain and revitalize.

            Michael Contreras Jr. is a member of the Torres Martinez Band of Desert Cahuilla Indians. Born in Banning, California, he attended Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas. Serving as the Morongo Band of Mission Indians Cultural Heritage Program Coordinator, he is charged with caring for Morongo’s large collection of baskets, artifacts, photos, and library collections. His other duties include management of local sacred and archaeological sites, tribal consultations, acquiring and archiving local tribal history, cultural educational involvement within Morongo’s preschool and elementary school, and educational presentations throughout the surrounding communities.

            The San Bernardino County Museum is at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.sbcountymuseum.org. The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. If assistive listening devices or other auxiliary aids are needed in order to participate in museum exhibits or programs, requests should be made through Museum Visitor Services at least three business days prior to your visit. Visitor Services’ telephone number is 909-307-2669 ext. 229 or (TDD) 909-792-1462.