OCEANSIDE: Annual powwow celebrates Mother Earth

By RENEE HAINES - For the North County Times | Saturday, June 14, 2008 11:55 PM PDT ∞

OCEANSIDE ---- Solemn prayers were followed by the sound of festive whoops and steady drum beats of performances Saturday by more than 100 American Indian dancers at the annual Intertribal Powwow at Mission San Luis Rey.

Organizers expected more than 7,000 visitors by the close Sunday of the two-day free celebration on the grounds of the historical mission in Oceanside. The event featured representatives of 25 local and visiting tribes.

There were young tourists in toy headdresses watching dancers from ages 3 to 80 performing in elaborate regalia hand-fashioned with bursts of colorful feathers, beads and elaborately stitched boots, headdresses and clothing.

Market booths featured American Indian crafts, Indian fry bread, jewelry and even a "Full Blood to the Bone" array of skateboards from Full Blood Skates, an American Indian-owned company in Pauma Valley.

Circles of men, seated around giant drums at the center and along the edges of a makeshift outside arena, provided a steady thump-thump of accompanying music and rhythmic chants.

"This is the heartbeat of the people," Charlie Arviso of Winchester said about the handmade drums at the powwow, which was sponsored by the local San Luis Rey Band of Luiseno Indians.

"Everything in it represents life ---- the tree for the base, the skins of animal hides, the hides for the drumsticks," Arviso said, taking a quick break from his daylong drumming duties. "It reaches people who need mending, as a spiritual path, for celebration."

American Indian military veterans led a group of gourd dancers to give thanks for surviving wars and to remember those who died.

Shawl dancers spread their vivid wraps with outstretched arms to mimic the movements of butterflies.

Among a group of jingle dancers was Aleshonee Judy Ventura, 11, of Vista, who said the hundreds of tiny jingle bells sewed onto her dress were fashioned the traditional way, from the lids of tobacco tins.

"It's so much fun," said Aleshonee, one of 100 people competing to win an intertribal dance competition.

Among the tribes represented were the Kickapoo, Cheyenne, Lakota, Kiowa, Red Oak and local Pechanga and Luiseno tribes.

Protecting "Mother Earth" was the big topic of welcoming prayers and speeches.

"More people are coming to understand our philosophy," said Saginaw Grant of the Sac-n-Fox, Iowa and Otoe-Missouria tribes.

Grant, an actor and activist who boasts a long list of film and television credits, said he attracts crowds of camera-wielding fans at every powwow he attends throughout the country.

The recent debates over global warming have focused more attention on the speeches he has made for decades on the need to protect Earth's finite resources, the former Marine said.

He cited recent weather disasters around the world.

"There are signs she's getting tired. We better pay heed and make peace with Mother Earth," Grant said.

The powwow continues from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.