Cahuilla Lodge # 127 (1973 – Present)

When California Inland Empire Council was formed on January 1, 1973, Tahquitz Lodge # 127 and Wisumahi Lodge # 478 had a year to complete their merger of Order of the Arrow programs. After meetings, discussions, and many compromises, Cahuilla Lodge # 127 was formed June 1, 1973.

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

On February 1, 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 three Pre-OA Societies that existed at three different camps.  The Tribe of Tahquitz (Riverside County Council) was formed in the 1920s at Camp Emerson, related but unique to the 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. 

Third was a pre-OA society called the Tribe of Navajo at Old Baldy Council’s Camp Tulakes which opened in 1924 ².

All three groups were reformulated as Order of the Arrow Lodges once their Councils received formal charters.

Pre-Cahuilla Lodges

Cahuilla Lodge has 5 distinct predecessor Lodges, 2 of which began in the 1930s and 3 that formed in the years after World War II when the Inland Empire began to grow quickly.

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.

• Cahuilla Lodge (Awarded 1973 – Present):  498
• A-tsa Lodge (Awarded 1959 – 1971):  25
• Navajo Lodge (Awarded 1955 – 2006):  153
• Tahquitz Lodge (Awarded 1939 – 1972):  43
• Wisumahi Lodge (Awarded 1957 – 1972):  72

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.