Millions in pandemic aid to Coachella Valley tribes highlighted in federal official's visit

A top federal official spent time Thursday in the Coachella Valley, where he marveled at some palms in Andreas Canyon that might just give DC’s cherry blossom trees a run for their money.

But while Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo also spent a moment dipping his hand in Andreas’ clear waters, this wasn’t purely a sightseeing stop. Instead, Adeyemo, who grew up in the Inland Empire, was in the valley to talk with Agua Caliente and Torres Martinez tribal officials about how the federal government can help Indian tribes.

Adeyemo's visit, which also included a private tour of the downtown Agua Caliente Cultural Museum that has not yet opened to the public, was part of a two-day trip to Southern California to highlight the impacts of the American Rescue Plan.

That $1.9 trillion bill, which was signed in 2021, provided hundreds of millions to state and local governments, plus about $30 billion to tribal governments, including millions for the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians. That sum has been called “the largest investment of resources into Indian Country and tribal communities in U.S. history” by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

“My trip to the area is about the fact that Secretary (Janet) Yellen and I are devoted to making sure that we are not just providing financial resources,” Adeyemo said. “We want to make sure that we deepen the broader relationship between the treasury department and these communities.”

He added that the spending is about not only helping the tribe deal with the impacts of the pandemic, but also addressing 'the legacy of underinvestment by the federal government in (Native American) communities.”

Adeyemo said it is important to both him and President Joe Biden to figure out ways to "unlock theunrealized potential of marginalized communities throughout America.”

During their walk, Adeyemo and Agua Caliente Tribal Chairman Reid Milanovich could be heard discussing the tribes’ deep ties to the Coachella Valley and their efforts to preserve and maintain the Indian Canyons area and other sacred tribal lands. Tribal Councilmember John R. Preckwinkle III also performed a tribal song for Adeyemo that tells of how the tribe first came to its homelands in the valley.

Following the visit with the Agua Caliente, Adeyemo was scheduled to visit the Torres Martinez reservation, which is near Thermal.

That tribe received $1.3 million in ARP dollars that were used for job training programs and another $1 million that was used to increase broadband internet access on the reservation. Over 900 tribal members also received emergency rent assistance funded with ARP dollars, while others received assistance paying mortgages. Figures for how much the Agua Caliente received weren't readily available.

“I think one of the things I have seen today is that there is so much potential and opportunity in Indian country and we want to be their partners in unlocking that potential,” Adeyemo said between the stops.

Paul Albani-Burgio covers breaking news and the City of Palm Springs. Follow him on Twitter at @albaniburgiop and via email at paul.albani-burgio@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Millions in pandemic aid for Agua Caliente, Torres Martinez highlighted