Mike, William

William Mike was a leader of the Twenty-Nine Palms Band, a Chemehuevi people in the desert region of Southern California. He came into this role in 1903 after the death of his brother Jim Mike. During this time, the Twenty-Nine Palms Band lived at the Oasis of Mara, in what is now Joshua Tree National Park.

Mike was killed in a series of tragic events in 1909, which also resulted in the death of his daughter, Carlota. These events were sensationalized both in settler media of the time, and in later works such as the Hollywood Western film "Tell Them Willie Boy is Here" (1969).

After these tragedies, members of the Twenty-Nine Palms Band left the Oasis of Mara. The descendents of William and Jim Mike make up the present-day membership of the federally recognized Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians.