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Cahuilla Lodge # 127 (1973 – Present)

Cahuilla Lodge # 127 was formed in 1973 from the merger of Tahquitz Lodge # 127 and Wisumahi Lodge # 478. An exact date of founding is elusive. While California Inland Empire Council was formed on January 1, 1973, the Lodges had a year to complete their merger.

The name, Cahuilla Lodge, was selected in the Spring and announced the new name at the 1973 Section W4B Conclave.

In 1974, A-tsa Lodge # 380 (Grayback Council) was absorbed into Cahuilla Lodge and were constituted as their own chapter.

In 2006, the San Bernardino County-portion of Navajo Lodge # 98 (Old Baldy Council) was absorbed into Cahuilla Lodge1.

Pre-OA Societies

There were at least two Pre-OA Societies that existed at two different camps.  The Tribe of Tahquitz (Riverside County Council) was formed in the late 1920s at Camp Emerson and is the second Pre-OA Tribe of Tahquitz after the original formed at the Idyllwild Camp Tahquitz as part of Long Beach Area Council.

The second was the Tribe of Siwanis, which formed at Camp Arataba in Barton Flats and part of Arrowhead Area Council.  Both groups were reformulated as Order of the Arrow Lodges once their Councils received formal charters.

It is possible but unknown at this time if there was a pre-OA society at Old Baldy Council’s Camp Tulakes which opened in 1924 2. There is a very good chance there was but its existence may be lost to history.

Pre-Cahuilla Lodges

Cahuilla Lodge has 4 distinct predecessor Lodges, 2 of which began in the 1930s and 2 in the 1950s.

Navajo Lodge # 98 and Tahquitz Lodge # 127 were the 2nd and 4th Order of the Arrow Lodges formed in California, founded in 1937 and 1938 respectively.  Ho-Mita Koda Lodge # 380, part of the Redlands Area Council, existed between 1948 and 1952.  Wisumahi Lodge # 478 became a Lodge in 1952.  Finally, A-tsa Lodge # 380 was chartered in 1955 after the previous Lodge was disbanded.

The Vigil Honor

Out of an estimated 20,000 Arrowmen who have been inducted into the combined Order of the Arrow Lodges that make up Cahuilla today, there are only been approximately 791 Arrowmen have received the Vigil Honor.

Legacy of Service and Achievement

Cahuilla Lodge has the longest continually-operating Lodge website in the country, dating back to early 1998. Their site is older than the National Order of the Arrow website.

2 Arrowmen have served as Western Region Chiefs, 4 Arrowmen have received the National Distinguished Service Award, 16 Arrowmen have served as Section Chiefs, and 6 have served as Section Advisers.

Cahuilla Lodge has the longest continually-operating Lodge website in the country, dating back to early 1998. Their site is older than the National Order of the Arrow website.

Patch - 2018 Anniversary Chenille Front
Patch – 2018 Anniversary Chenille Front

Lodge Information

  • Term of Service: 1973 – Present
  • California Inland Empire Council # 45
    • 1230 Indiana Court, Redlands, CA 92374
  • Website: http://www.snakepower.org 3
  1. The Los Angeles County portion of Navajo Lodge was absorbed into Ta Tanka Lodge # 488
  2. The 50 year lease from the United States Forest Service as sold to Grayback Council in 1955, and the lease subsequently ended in 1974 after the CIEC merger.
  3. Cahuilla is likely the second Lodge in the country to host its own domain name – Octoraro Lodge’s original website appeared as early as 1995)

Last updated: June 13, 2021 at 16:10 pm