History, culture, spirit celebrated at intertribal powwow
By: ELIZABETH IRELAND - For the North County Times | ∞
Shania Navarro, 2, dressed in her dance regalia Saturday at the Inter-Tribal Powwow at Mission San Luis Rey. Shania is Apache and Creek Indian and lives in the San Joaquin Valley.
BILL WECHTER Staff Photographer
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OCEANSIDE ---- The sounds of singing and a drumbeat that grew gradually louder commenced the Grand Entry for the 11th annual Luiseno Inter-Tribal Powwow at Mission San Luis Rey on Saturday afternoon, featuring American Indians from tribes across the nation. View A Video
The Grand Entry was led by Sonja Flores, of Pala, a member of the Cupeno and Ute tribes.
Organizers of the powwow, the San Luis Rey Band of Luiseno Mission Indians, invited Flores to represent all women.
The processional, blessed with sage for spiritual cleansing, featured tribal officials, veterans, hundreds of dancers of all ages and a warrior called a "whip" rounding out the back to make sure everyone stayed in line.
The daily Grand Entry ends with a prayer service, and then the dancing begins.
Drumming, dance competitions and ceremonies last all day. The two-day, family-friendly event draws thousands of people. Visitors have the opportunity to buy a variety of American Indian crafts from the dozens of vendors or wait in line for fry bread, the most popular powwow dish.
"The purpose of the powwow is to share values, tradition and reconnect with neighbors," said Carrie Lopez, adviser to the council of the San Luis Rey Band of Luiseno Mission Indians. Her daughter, 16-year-old Cristina Lopez, is dancing all weekend.
"Dancing is about respecting your past and the elders who can't dance," Cristina said. "It makes you feel like you belong somewhere."
Flores said she goes to powwows all year-round, and that the intertribal powwow is one of her favorites "because it's smaller, with a focus on spending time with family and seeing people you haven't seen in a while."
Three generations of the WhiteCloud Singers, a drum group founded in 1970, have been coming to the Oceanside powwow every year.
The eldest, Laguna Pueblo tribe member Jose WhiteCloud, of Barstow, said they call their drum "the heart" because "my grandfather said 'this is your heart.' All the more reason we're supposed to take care of it."
His son Ernie Whitecloud and grandson Valentino DeWitt drummed nearby.
Saginaw Grant, from the Sac and Fox tribes of Oklahoma, explained to the crowd, "We're not here to put on a show. This is our way of life."
Dancers wear their own designs to reflect characteristics of their tribe.
Colorful beads, fringed buckskin, feathers, moccasins and bells around their ankles make up the regalia, costing anywhere from $500 to $2,500. The dancing is judged by other dancers, with cash prizes awarded.
Jay Castaneda, a 21-year-old student at San Diego State University, said he has been dancing at the Oceanside powwow since he was 2 years old.
He said he dances because "my grandmother is trying to get the Luiseno tribe federally recognized, and my dancing makes her happy."
Powwow ceremonies range from paying tribute to someone sick, gourd dancing for veterans, and weddings.
Rene (Apache Indian) and Heidi Navarro (Creek Indian) of Farmersville, said they were married at the powwow three years ago.
"We chose this powwow for our wedding because we knew how nice the people were, it's in a beautiful city, and we always have a good time here," Rene said.
This year they celebrated their anniversary by bringing their 2-year-old daughter, Shania, to dance at her first powwow.
"Events like this are spiritually enriching for Indians and non-Indians. All cultures are embraced here," said Randy Pico, master of ceremonies for the powwow and member of the Luiseno/Pechanga tribes.
The powwow continues from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today.
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Great experience for all... wrote on Jun 10, 2007 10:02 AM:Save the Luiseno heritage - stop "Palomar Station" in San Marcos which will cover your ancestor's burial grounds. Contach the City of San Marcos. Speak out. We want to protect your tribal land!!!!!! Have a wonderful Sunday at the powwow.
Retta wrote on Jun 11, 2007 7:25 PM:This was great! Thank you for the acknowledgement~
foursquare wrote on Jun 11, 2007 8:13 PM:Powwows reflect a Plains Indian culture, and thus show the stereotypical view of tribal peoples in the popular American consciousness. Banging a drum while shrieking gives a good example of this culture. Dancing in a circle while dressed in an expensive costume provides an example of entertainment playing to this view. The booth operators who sell items during powwows can earn plenty of money. Individuals promoting Christianity may piggyback on these gatherings to spread their religious message. Traditional tribal peoples often refer to those individuals who participate in these gatherings as "powwow Indians" signifying that these performers and hangers-on do not represent a unique tribal view but instead a homogenized picture of tribal life.
Sioux Naiton wrote on Apr 24, 2008 11:00 AM:Foursquare- I take it that you are not Native American nor do you understand what the purpose of the singing at the powwows mean. No one is shreiking, what does that even mean. They are singing songs in ther Native Language which have been passed down from generation to generation. I can see how a person with there own political agenda (which only reflects ignorance in your case) can stereotype only things in a negative way that they do not understand.
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