Indian Days celebration begins

  Tribes from around the United States have traveled here for the Quechan Indian Tribe's annual Indian Days celebration.

  Now all that's needed, organizers say, is for local folks and winter visitors to join the good times, too.

  Indian Days, which kicked off Friday, are a time for the Quechans to celebrate with other tribes and for non-native people to learn more about the local tribe.

  "The goal is to let people know that our culture is still alive," Phil Emerson, chairman of the event, has told The Sun. "We invite people from surrounding communities and performers from different tribes to come for a cultural exchange."

 The Quechan Indian Tribe began hosting Indian Days celebrations back in the 1970s when many tribes around the country also began offering the annual event. Several thousand people attend each year.

  The tribe crowned a new Miss Quechan on Friday night and other activities were enjoyed, but the bulk of the celebration takes place today (Saturday). Events will start off with a parade and later include traditional dancing and singing, love music and games.

  A free community barbecue is set for 5 p.m. (See schedule)

  Most events take place at the tribe's Evergreen Park near the north end of the Ocean-to-Ocean Bridge.

  Sunday's activities bring the event to a close, ending with a horseshoe contest and screening of native films at Main St. Cinemas.

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SCHEDULE FOR INDIAN DAYS

Today
8 a.m. - Tribal parade lineup and judging
9 a.m. - Tribal parade
10:30 p.m. - Flag-raising ceremony, welcome address, presentation of parade awards
Noon - Dance performances by Aztec Dance Group and Hualapai Round Dance Group
3 p.m. - Adult games; bird dance contest and bird singing contest
5 p.m. - Community barbecue, dinner entertainment'
8 p.m. - Live music; sign-up for peon tournament
9 p.m. - Peon games begin

Sunday
9 a.m. - Horseshoe contest
Noon - Native film screening at Main St. Cinemas

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Darin Fenger can be reached at
dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.