On both community outreach and social education fronts, Morongo has taken a leadership role. More than two thirds of the Morongo workforce is composed of residents from the Banning Pass and desert cities. The tribe pays payroll taxes, unemployment benefits, employee benefits and provides health programs. An independent study reported that the tribe’s gaming and non-gaming businesses would generate more than $2.8 billion into the regional economy by 2008. The tribe now employs more than 3,000 people.

With its diversification into non-gaming businesses, the tribe has become the largest private sector employer in the Banning-Beaumont region and is a major contributor to the Coachella Valley economy. The present $250 million destination which opened in late 2004, the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, is one of the largest tribal gaming facilities in the nation. From this building evolved one of the oldest and most successful Indian gaming facilities in California. In 1983, the path of Morongo’s future changed when tribal members started a modest bingo hall. The Morongo Reservation was one of nine small reservations set aside by President Grant by executive order in 1865. Resilient and resourceful, the Morongo tribe has had to overcome many adversities. One game can last a few hours, or extend on until early morning hours.Set at the foot of the beautiful San Gorgonio and San Jacinto Mountains, the Morongo Indian Reservation spans more than 32,000 acres and overlooks the vistas of the Banning Pass. This is a game of concentration, strategy and planning. Demanding both wit and skill, the winning team must capture 15 game sticks to claim victory. Winning game sticks are distributed by the referee. Then the player folds his hands, the opposing team can then begin guessing the location of the black and white peons. Which traditional peon songs are sung by the players and backers, players hold up a blanket with their teeth to prevent the opposing team from seeing where one player is hiding the peons.

A band of rawhide is strapped in the middle of the stick which is slipped over the player’s wrist. Similar to “hand games”, each player has two peon bones (one black and one white) made from coyote or deer leg bones. Four member opposing teams of either men or women play. Today, peon can be played at any type of Indian gathering or fiesta. Peon is a guessing game that used to be played during the annual mourning ceremonies.

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