Annual Meeting & Conference

The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum (ACCM) preserves, interprets, and provides access to the history and culture of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and other Cahuilla peoples. The ACCM sees its role as preserving the past, documenting the present, and nurturing culture for the future, ACCM is a place to teach new generations the important lessons that have come down through the age; to cultivate relationships, create partnerships, and share resources for the preservation and well-being of the entire community. Their important work has been recognized when the ACCM was the first Native American museum to be part of the Smithsonian Institution Affiliations Program.

In order to more fully fulfill its mission planning is underway for the construction of a new 110,000 sq.ft. home for the museum to be located in heart of Palm Springs. The new ACCM is being designed by Jones & Jones Architects & Landscape Architects. This firm includes Johnpaul Jones (Cherokee/Choctaw), who was lead designer for the National Museum of the American Indian of the Smithsonian Institution, and will seek to echo traditional Cahuilla culture - basketry, pottery, and architecture. The ACCM believes that this world-class museum "will serve as a new kind of Tribal elder", holding and passing on traditions to younger generations, in the belief that "knowledge is a tool for empowerment, autonomy, and the proper stewardship of the land and culture."

This year WAAC's Angels project seeks to assist this process through working on issues surrounding collections care working with staff from the ACCM.

If you'd like to be involved in and/or would like to help sponsor this project please contact:

Daniel Cull, WAAC President