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The Heart is Fire:
The World of the Cahuilla Indians of Southern California

Deborah Dozier

In this beautifully produced and evocative book, five Cahuilla elders—Katherine Saubel, Alvino Siva, Dolores Alvarez, Anthony Andreas, and JoMay Modesto—come together to converse. They tell their own stories, share memories of the old days, and express their thoughts about the future of their much beloved Cahuilla culture. The Heart is Fire records their conversations, giving us a glimpse into the varied and complex world of the Cahuilla.

Richly illustrated with 78 photographs, this book is a commentary by Cahuilla people on their own culture and tradition; a chance for the reader to hear a story of modern Indian life in the words of those who know it best.

Deborah Dozier

Deborah Dozier has worked with the Cahuilla community since 1990 and is on the editorial board of the Malki Museum, a Cahuilla tribal museum on the Morongo Reservation. She holds master’s degrees in museum studies and is currently pursuing a doctorate in anthropology from the University of California at Riverside.